Back in the 1800s, there were these cool machines at fairs and amusement parks that would take a penny and press the Lord’s Prayer onto it. You’d put your penny in, turn a crank, and out would come your coin with a prayer stamped on it! People thought these were pretty neat souvenirs.

But here’s the thing...having a prayer stamped on a coin isn’t the same as having a prayer come from your heart! It’s like the difference between getting a plain “Happy Birthday” card and having someone write you a personal letter telling you all the reasons they’re glad you’re their friend.

Jesus warned us not to pray like people who are just trying to show off or who don’t really mean what they’re saying. He called these people “hypocrites,” which means “actors” or “fake people.” They would stand on street corners and pray really loudly so everyone could see how “holy” they were, but their hearts weren’t really connected to their words.

God doesn’t want fancy, impressive prayers. He wants honest prayers that come from your heart! Whether you’re using your own words, singing a song to God, or even praying a prayer you’ve memorized, the most important thing is that you really mean what you’re saying.

Take Action: Try this experiment this week: Write God a letter! Instead of just saying a quick prayer, sit down and write out your thoughts to God like you’re writing to your best friend. Tell Him about what’s making you happy, what’s worrying you, what you’re grateful for, and what you need help with. Remember, God loves hearing from you—not because you use fancy words but because you’re talking to Him with a sincere heart!