Matthew 6:5-6 (NLT)
5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

As Jesus talks to the crowd he is encouraging them to pray privately so their prayers don’t become public spectacles. Prayer is about the relationship with God and not about showing off for others. If we are to let God tend to our prayers we must be humble in attitude, not proud or given to vainness. The problem Jesus saw were people praying publicly for their own honor and recognition. It’s not man who should be pleased with our prayers, but God.

This is a part of a children’s song that you may know:
Oh, be careful little mouth what you say (repeat)
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love.
So, be careful little mouth what you say!

The words in the song relate to what Jesus was saying in Matthew. We need to be careful of our words we speak in front of others, whether its prayers we are praying, or our Christian testimony or anything that might bring shame and disrespect to the Lord. Our lives are not like TIVO where we can rewind and start back at another point. Once we say something or perform an action it is there for everyone to see. And if it brings dishonor, it dishonors our testimony to God. Pray your words will always give honor to God. Speak to God privately so that others do not think you are trying to call attention to yourself. Carefully choose words so you will not have to worry about taking them back.