Say Your Prayers In Private

“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.”
(Matthew 6:6)

When I’m conversing with God, he wants me to do it in private. That might mean shutting myself in a bedroom or anyplace I can find seclusion. When I’m in a quiet place and all alone I am able to give the unseen Father my complete attention. It’s hard for me to have a meaningful conversation with anyone when the noise of the world is all around me. We live in a world with a cacophony of external clatter and distractions. Most of the time, in today’s world, I’m distracted from any personal time with God by my electronic devices. God’s plan for my life includes intimate time with him.
The only time some people pray, is when they are in front of other of people, like at church or a Bible study. Jesus warns me not pray just to impress others with how well I pray. Wishing to be seen or lauded by others when I’m praying is hypocritical. Not only am I risking an answer to my prayer, but I’m telling God I value the approval of other people more than his. Everything Jesus is telling me in this scripture is it’s all about my heart. If my heart desires the approval of people instead of God, then anything I say in my prayer will go unheard by God.
Of course, Jesus isn’t talking about every kind of prayer. He wants unbelievers to see us praying in restaurants before our meals, before sporting events, and at the start of public meetings. Someone has to lead prayer time at our church services. He wants us to pray together when we meet for Bible study and fellowship. Those are called corporate prayers. Praying out loud for each other, sharing our heartfelt concerns and fear, as well as our praises, is the will of the Father. He doesn’t want us to need affirmation from people after we pray, looking for some kind of pat on the back.




Heavenly Father you love us even in the midst of our detestable lives of sin and depravity. You have demonstrated how you are the Almighty God through the scriptures, through the signs and wonders we’ve witnessed, and in our own changed hearts and minds. Father we want our prayers to you to be like a personal conversation with our best friend. After all, you have done more for us than any human friend could ever possibly do. Help us not to trivialize our prayers by only offering them in a public setting, so others will think we’re really spiritual and holy. Remind us that the greatest prayer uttered while looking for honor and praise, goes unheard and therefore unanswered. Don’t let us heed to the devil’s whispers that you are not listening to the prayers we offer. Never allow us to think our prayers don’t matter to you. Even if all our prayers ever say is, how much we love you, help us to tell you that all day long. But always remind us to pray our personal prayers in private, not to be seen or heard by others. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!
Location: Kendall, NY 14476, USA

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