Bowing Over the Phone (Matthew 6:6)

The other day, I was speaking to another physician on the phone, in front my office staff. She was from Japan and spoke english with a Japanese accent. After the conversation, my staff were chuckling to themselves. When I queried them, they smiled and said, “You were bowing over the phone!”

Too funny! Because I knew the other physician was Japanese, I had unconsciously entered into my Japanese etiquette and began bowing when the other physician was speaking. Although she could never see what I was doing, I would have been remiss if I did not bow. I acted as if she could see my bow!

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:6 (ESV)

Like the Japanese physician who did not see my bow over the phone, I knew that I was giving her the respect and honor she deserved. She didn’t know but I knew. Sometimes we think that with God, our actions don’t matter. Why pray? Surely God knows we love Him! Surely God knows we need Him! But prayer does not make God aware of our needs, He surely and already knows them. Prayers makes us aware of our needs and how desperately we need Him! We honor God, not because He needs to see us, but because we need to learn humility and our dependence upon Him. Like bowing over the phone, prayers and honoring God are to remind us of our position before God.

And unlike a phone conversation, God knows we are honoring Him!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.