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 NIV
Context:
This passage is part of the sermon on the Mount, where Jesus taught his disciples about the principles of the kingdom. It must be clearly emphasized that the sermon on the Mount was for his disciples. The crowd was there, as it usually follows Jesus wherever he goes, but at this time, he was not speaking to the crowd, but to all who had made the decision to follow him. Have you made that decision? Are you still part of the crowd at the foot of the mountain, content to follow what is popular, not necessarily what is in line with God's will?
Message and Response:
The words used in today's extract make it clear who Jesus is talking to here. If I am to pray, would I not know, recognize and accept the authority and power of the one I am to pray to? If it is indeed prayer I want to engage in, I cannot do it the way I want it done, or the way I think it should be done, but the way the one I am praying to wants it done.
I am not given the power to choose if I want to; it says WHEN I pray. Do I make it a habit or is it an occasional celebration? Is it a lifestyle or a periodic exercise? Is it an essential, non-negotiable part of my daily life or is it one of the many options I have to pick and choose from? And that which the God we pray to accepts is that which is done away from the prying eyes or the false applause of men. I must not be carried away by the 'noise' of approval or recognition, or even the 'silent' nod of men who see all the 'good' I do; what man thinks has never been the way God judges.
I need to step away from the need to be seen by men to where I can be heard and seen by God. We know he sees and hears all that we do and say, but there is a special place for the experience of praying. I get to air all my pains and pleasures, and I get to see the mind of God revealed to me in the place of prayer. It is not about grumbling or complaining, but about actually talking with God. It is not talking to him only, not caring about a response, but waiting in the place of prayer for that which he may seek to say.
He is the master of the secret place. He is the one who makes men in the secret place before he announces them to the world. He is the one who keeps a man hidden, equipping and preparing him for the years of manifestation that are ahead. We hear nothing of Elijah at all, until he stood before Ahab, locking up heaven and disappearing. We hear nothing of John the Baptist until he appeared in the wilderness, declaring God's mind to soldiers and leaders, without fear. That is what the secret place of God does to a man; it prepares you for a life of impact as defined by God.
God does not owe; whatever it is I place in his hands is safe and secure. If I place my life in his hands, he can take care of me. I read the word: 'reward' and I wonder: what is the basis of God giving me something in recognition of service, effort or achievement? Whatever form it may take, it appears that God considers praying to him a service, effort or an achievement, for which he owes me a reward. He does not promise me that his answer will always be what I want to hear, but he promises me a reward for talking with him in prayer. Of course, when God rewards, all men will see it. Would I then prefer the recognition of mortal men, who can clap for me today and crucify me tomorrow? Would I not rather prefer the reward of an eternal God, who is able to make me a blessing to my own generation, as well as to the ones yet unborn, like Abraham?
Praying to God isn't first for God's benefit but for mine. It is an admission that I am helpless and lost without God's guidance and I am saying to God very clearly that I will not dare do anything without his guidance. Pity the man who thinks he is self-made and doesn't need God. Pity the man who thinks he has life all figured out and needs nothing or anyone else. Like all the men and women of old who discovered the power of prayer, God calls us all to walk that same path with him, and see the benefits that are attached. I lose nothing by praying, except my helplessness and despair. I gain a heart full of confidence in the ability and power of God to see me through whatever it is that is present or ahead. There is no room for pretence, hypocrisy or eye-service; God cannot be deceived by outward piety empty of true devotion. If it is done right, God is honoured and he also acts as promised. If it is done wrong, you may spend time doing it, but there is no reward. May I not expend precious energy on that which God does not recognise and will not reward. His time of favour is here.
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