But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. … for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Matthew 6:6, 8
Today our lesson is from Andrew Murray, and emphasizes the importance of private prayer and provides insights into how Jesus taught His disciples to pray. He highlights the significance of having a secret place for prayer, where one can be alone with God. This secret place is where believers meet our heavenly Father and experience the light of His love and the assurance of His presence.
During His Sermon on the Mount, our Lord tells the disciples God is not only King, but Father. Here we have His teaching us to pray. While Moses, David and the prophets prayed, it is Jesus who is our Teacher.
And the first thing the Lord teaches His disciples is that they must have a secret place for prayer; everyone must have some solitary spot where he can be alone with his God.
The Secret Place: Jesus teaches that everyone must have a solitary spot where they can be alone with their God.
Meeting the Father: Three times Jesus uses the name of Father 1) pray to your Father, 2) your Father will reward you, and 3) You Father knows your needs.
And so we are taught, at the very outset of our search after the secret of effectual prayer, to remember that it is in the inner chamber, where we are alone with the Father, that we shall learn to pray aright … your first thought must be: The Father is in secret, the Father waits me there.
Faith in Secret Prayer: Secret prayer is not about the strength or fervency of our feelings but about the faith and confidence that God, as a loving Father, will respond to the prayers offered in secret.
Finally, God Knows Your Needs: Christ assures believers that Father knows our needs even before we ask.
In summary, this lesson underscores the value of private prayer as a means to connect with God as a loving Father, encourages childlike faith in prayer, and emphasizes the confidence that God knows and provides for our needs, reinforcing the importance of secret prayer as a vital part of the Christian’s spiritual life.
And we pray in the podcast for you. If you’re reading this, especially as a Subscriber, we’re praying for you. So join me for a few minutes in that secret place and pray to Our Father.
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