March 9

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, — Matt 6:3 BSB

Jesus taught that His disciples shouldn’t seek to be seen by others when doing good. They should focus on pleasing the Father. If they seek human recognition and praise, that’s the only reward they will receive. But if they serve only for God’s eyes, they will be rewarded in heaven.

Prayer, too, is meant for God’s ears, not people’s. This doesn’t mean we should never pray in public or confess Christ openly. The point is that we should live for God’s eyes alone, never performing religious acts to impress others. When we pray, we should first seek God’s glory before bringing our own needs.

Our prayers must also be unselfish, asking for others as well as for ourselves. And when we ask God for forgiveness, we must be ready to forgive those who have wronged us. God isn’t interested in outward appearances; He looks into our hearts and judges what He finds there.