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Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

== Pray in secret ==

== Praying in secret ==

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told followers how to pray and offered an ideal prayer (Mathew 6: 6-15).  He said that one should pray alone, secretly, and should not announce one's prayer or pray ostentationsly.  Some Christians interpret this as direct instructions and for this reason oppose prayers in schools, public meetings, or other non-religious meetings. Jesus is very specific:

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told followers how to pray and offered an ideal prayer ({{Bible ref|Mathew|6|9-13}}).  He cautioned against praying hypocritically, such as praying in public to look good, and said that instead one should pray alone, secretly, and should not announce one's prayer.  Some Christians interpret this as direct instructions and for this reason oppose prayers in schools, public meetings, or other non-religious meetings.

{{Bible quote|And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.|book=Matthew|chap=6|verses=5-7}}

[http://www.lifeofchrist.com/teachings/sermons/mount/lordsprayer.asp Instructions for praying] Sermon on the Mount.

 

 

''And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.'' [http://www.lifeofchrist.com/teachings/sermons/mount/lordsprayer.asp Instructions for praying] Sermon on the Mount.

   

   

Other religions, and even different traditions within Christianity have developed their own practices related to prayer.<ref>"The Modes of Prayer," from the Nazerine Way of Essenic Study [http://www.thenazareneway.com/modes_of_prayer.htm]</ref>

Other religions, and even different traditions within Christianity have developed their own practices related to prayer.<ref>"The Modes of Prayer," from the Nazerine Way of Essenic Study [http://www.thenazareneway.com/modes_of_prayer.htm]</ref>

== References==

== References==