Biblical Teaching on Prayer
Matthew 6:6
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.
~ Jesus
Pondering Point
We are not praying to impress men, nor do we need to sneak off to a closet and kneel amid high-heeled shoes and belts. The idea is to connect with God minus the competing awareness that others may be watching. When we are not seen by others, we are not distracted with self-conscious thoughts. By the way, this does not abolish praying in front of others. Jesus did so Himself – and encourages His disciples to pray together as well. What it means is to keep your motives singular and godly.
Prayer Prompt
Move away from those you might desire to impress or who might curiously peer in and start praying. While those people can’t see you, God Himself is watching and ready to reward you seeking after Him.
Prayer Thoughts
Chapter 5
Closet
Matthew 6:6
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.
A story comes from Africa about an entire village of people who became believers. They were told to learn to pray individually in their own privacy. Since they had no closet doors to close, they each selected their own location in the jungle near their village. As they daily walked back and forth on their own footpath, the grass disappeared. Eventually others could recognize whether or not a person was spending time in prayer. It became a habit when they saw another’s footpath fill with grass to say to that individual: “Grass is growing on your path.” It was a gentle reminder. They wanted that person to be spending time in conversation with God.
Got his book? Read pages 43-45 in Keep Me and Keep All, Smith.
Also check out Pastor Bob’s answer to Prayer Question #38 on page 281: “Can you just picture the prayer, or do you have to be verbal?"