What is the essence of prayer? Luther taught the common person that "prayer is nothing else than the lifting up of heart or mind to God." He continues, "But if the lifting up of the heart consitutes the essence and nature of prayer, it follows that everything else which does not invite the lifting of the heart is not prayer." Luther says this in an exposition of the Lord's prayer, urging heartfelt prayer at a time when mindlessly mumbling through beads had become one of the marks of piety. And so the average Christian had a distorted view of prayer. The heart of the matter is the heart, and lifting up our hearts to God alone moves and pleases him.
"This people draws near with their mouth and honors me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men" (Isa. 29:13; cf. Mt. 15:8).
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