Where do you like to pray?

Sometimes we pray for others while we are with them. Sometimes we pray together in a worship service. Sometimes we pray together before a meal or in family devotions. Sometimes, though, we pray by ourselves, alone…in secret.

In Matthew 6:6, is Jesus telling us we can only pray in our closets?

No. Starting with verse 1 of chapter 6, Jesus gives 3 examples of good, Christian practices, and warns not to do them in a way that calls attention to yourself. Don’t do righteous deeds in a way to be seen by others. Don’t blast your horn before you give to the poor. Don’t be like the “hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.”

This verse reminds us of a few things.

• Prayer is not a Show – One is that prayer isn’t a show. This is the primary point Jesus is making. We aren’t praying to impress people or God.
• No Distractions – Also, sometimes it’s good to get away from everything to pray, so we can pray without distractions.
• God Knows – Another is that God sees what we do in secret.

We may read that last one as a scary thing.

“Uh oh! God knows that bad thing I did the other day, even though no one else saw it.”

This is true, of course, but the implication of this passage is positive.

God can hear your prayer whether you are in church, at home, or by yourself at the bottom of the ocean in the belly of a great fish. (Just ask Jonah!)

God also sees the good things we have done that no one else knows about.

In fact, in another verse, Jesus tells His disciples that when they fast, they shouldn’t make it obvious to others that they were fasting, but go through the day like everything is normal.

God would know they were fasting. And God hears us when we pray in secret. God knows the desires of our heart, both our hurts and our joys, the things we don’t share with anyone. And, yes, God also sees your hidden sins, but remember, He wants to forgive you. So, confess those, too!

This doesn’t mean that we should never pray in public.

After all, there are plenty of public prayers in the Bible. There’s a whole book, Psalms, that was used for public prayers and songs.

Rather, this is telling us that God doesn’t want us to make a big show of our prayers. He simply wants us to go to Him and pour out our hearts. Share our struggles. Confess our sins. Share our triumphs. Ask for help. Pray for others…just between God and us.

He hears us and He answers our prayers.

Heavenly Father,

You know my heart. You hear me when I pray, even when no one else knows. Thank You for listening to me, answering my prayers, and loving me.

Amen

As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:

• Your family
• Your local church
• Your pastor
• Some of your fellow church members
• The people on your B.L.E.S.S. list
• Your country and her leaders
• Your community

After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.