In the Secret Place

"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” 

—Matthew 6:6

Prayer is one of the most intimate acts done, and one that no one will ever truly comprehend except God. He alone knows its true power. He alone knows the type of change it is capable of effecting. Prayer is the means of communication that He created in order that man might be able to commune with his Master. Therefore, since it is the means by which we most intimately commune with God, it is no wonder why He has placed such a high value on it.

God values prayer, all different types and styles. The degree to which God values prayer can be seen in Jesus’ response to the corruption of the temple. It was the only time recorded in Scripture that Jesus ever demonstrated his anger in a physical way, and it was in response to the disrespect and disregard the religious authorities had for God’s temple, which is a house of prayer (see Mark 11:15-19).

God values all kinds of prayers: impromptu prayers, public prayers, private prayers, and petitionary prayers, among others. But there is one kind of prayer that God doesn’t like: the kind that draws attention to the individual praying. Jesus taught a great deal about prayer and modeled a life of deep, dependent, and intimate prayer. Jesus taught that our praying was not to be done in such a manner that others would come and pay attention to us. We don’t pray to receive acclamation, or so that our godliness might be seen and praised, but we pray in such a manner that our prayer is entirely directed to God and to Him alone. When Jesus taught about the secret place, He wasn’t necessarily speaking about a specific locale, but a focus aimed directly at God. It’s not that God didn’t want us praying outside, but that we would be singularly focused upon Him and not on what others might think or do in response to our prayers. When we pray in the secret place, we are demonstrating that God alone is God and we are entirely dependent upon Him. And when we show ourselves dependent upon Him, focused upon Him, praying in faith, and according to His will, He hears us and will answer our prayers.

What has been the focus of your prayer life? Have you prayed in such a way that others might see you and esteem how good and holy you are? Then you have already received your reward. Ask God to give you a heart singularly focused upon Him and then go someplace where you can get alone and communicate with God. Look for a place and time where and when you are unhurried (if it’s possible) and alert. Take the time to pour out your heart before Him in the secret place, and I promise you that He will answer your heart’s request. It may not be in the way that you would like, but He will answer. Amen.