LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
 
Sunday 8th February 2026

PRAYING WITHOUT PRETENCE
 

Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 2
 
In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. *1 Timothy 2:9–10
 
Although Paul directs this instruction to women, it has a general application for all Christians – both male and female. A similar scenario from our study this week is the instruction for men to pray lifting holy hands. This was because men led corporate prayer. Of course, women generally also ought to lift up holy hands when they pray because it is applicable to both men and women.
 
Today’s passage addresses the way we present ourselves before the Lord. We must not approach Him with little thought or awareness of how we come before Him. We must be appropriately adorned as we approach God for our prayers to be received by Him. There are a number lessons to learn from the illustration given on the manner of adornments that must be worn.

Let us be modest.

We must not be seeking to impress God with wordy, flowery language or a display of knowledge or some skill in prayer. We must approach God in simplicity and with humility.  

Let us not pretend.

We must come to God as we are. God is all knowing and can see through any acquired form we put on in prayer. We must relate with Him as a child would ordinarily speak to a father, without any pretense.  
 
• *Let us do good works.* We must not come with our lives full of malice, evil and vengeance. If we are culpable of these, we can seek the Lord’s forgiveness. But whenever we come to the Lord, we must do so adorned with goodness and good works.
 
It is God’s desire to hear and answer us when we pray. When we come to Him in the manner He has instructed us to, He will respond when we call to Him.
 
Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, I come before you just as I am. Without pretense or my own righteousness. In Jesus’ name, Amen._