Pray!

Pray!

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:6 KJV

First of all, today's extract is addressed to the disciples, who Jesus had taken up a mountain to teach and to equip for the service that was ahead. Today's extract is one of such teachings, and it is on the subject of prayer. It is apparent that for Jesus to teach on it, and to also prescribe a pattern of prayer, it must be very important, and we also would do well to consider what He has said. 

So, for me, if I am a disciple, do I PRAY or do I grumble, murmur and complain to people around me? Am I all about speaking about the principles and processes of prayer, without any actual practice of prayer? There is a WHEN, which means that as long as I know the value and power of prayer, it is not a matter of IF but WHEN. I will make it a daily and regular practice, and I will do it in line with God's express will, so that I can get the benefits promised. 

Of course, the key focus is on PRAY, not grumble, murmur or complain. Do I share my pains with everyone else except God? Am I quick to share my fears and thoughts with people, yet cannot take a few minutes of the day to talk to the Creator of the heavens and the earth? If I will gain the benefits of prayer in line with God's will, I must pray in line with his will? 

How do I do this? It is in the CLOSET, the place that nobody sees, where there is no deceit, pretence or hypocrisy. Men can keep up appearances in public, but it is difficult to keep up deceit when it is you alone. It is in the closet that men are made by God, not in the open. What you see in the open is the fruit of periods of silent sowing, praying and seeking God's face. How do you claim a harvest when there has been no sowing or investing? It has to be just God and I, behind doors that are shut, in private. What doors need to be shut, so that God can catch and hold my attention? Am I all about the physical effects, and no time to keep the noise out, so that I can hear God clearly? 

My Father is in secret, and He sees in secret, and I must pray to Him where He is. Rarely does God do anything in public that has not been paid for first in secret prayer. He examines the heart and the motive, and is able to determine the WHY behind the WHAT that I seek from Him. He sees in secret, but His reward is done in the open. Men who experience this open reward NEVER forget what the secret is: the power behind what you see isn't seen; it is in the secret place where God is. Men who will keep the line of communication open with God will always experience open heavens. Answers will come, and no matter what they are, the heart is not shaken because it knows that only the best, in line with God's will, is available. 

That is the confidence I have when I approach the throne of God to pray. I know He is ready to answer me, and to do all that is required to glorify Himself in and through me. So, what do I do? Do I pray, or do I pretend? Is He the steering wheel, driving me to His purpose for me, or have I made Him into a spare wheel, used only in emergencies and largely forgotten most times until needed? Am I seeking God where He is, or am I trying to fit Him into my already busy schedule, hoping that He will come through when I need Him? Your answers, before God, already speak to what you should expect from Him. His time of favour is here.