Daily Devotion: The First Rule of Prayer

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. (Galatians 6:7, ESV)

Martin Luther's first rule of prayer was "Don't lie to God" (attributed to Luther. Apologies, I have not been able to find the precise citation).  Since God knows everything, lying to Him sounds at face value ridiculous, but nonetheless we do it all the time. The most obvious lies we tell God are about our own sins and their consequences. We act falsely (we sow weeds) and then we shocked when it turns about badly (we reap problems).

Today, first: remember God's grace! He hears even the prayers you forget to speak and puts the best construction on the ones we do. Second: make every effort to "tell it like it is" when you speak to God, remembering Luther's first rule of prayer.