Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – Pray To Your Father – Matthew 6:6 – Growing As Disciples

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)

In Secret

Here I am Father. I have shut the door to my room. There are no distractions. I have closed myself off to all the noise and demands of the world. This time we have together has been carved out of my schedule and set aside for the sole purpose of meeting with you. At first it was a challenge to make this time to be with you a regular practice in my life, but now it’s not at all. Why is that? For a very long time I let all the loudest voices scream for my attention. What do you mean by that? Well, there were voices of duty and my “to do” lists which demanded my attention and were never completed. I foolishly thought I didn’t have time to meet with you. Somehow, I thought that at some point I would get around to meeting with you during the day. But you usually never did. That’s right. What changed for you? I’m not sure exactly. I guess I just got weary and felt very unfruitful in my life. I was getting a lot done. But, I began to wonder how important were all the things that I was getting done. I began to ask myself, “What will all these ‘accomplishments’ add up to in light of eternity? What answer came back to you? The answer was “not much” or maybe even, “next to nothing”. So, out of a sense of futility a desire grew within me to meet privately with you. Where do you think that desire came from? I know now that you gave me this desire to withdraw from the world to a time of being with you in your presence. Yes, it was me. Tell me now how this time with me all began with you. I already know, but I want others to hear your story. 

One day it occurred to me to set aside just a few minutes to meet with you to pray and read your word every day. How did that work out? It worked great. How so? I think you guided me to select a specific time and place that could become sacred for us. When and where was that? It was in my room and just before I went to bed at night. At night, that seems a little odd, doesn’t it? Not really, I knew that nothing would ever compete with this time and place so I dedicated it and myself to meeting with you then and there. What happened then? As you know, we began to meet together every night. Out of this time, my hunger and thirst for you grew like never before. I began to taste your goodness, mercy, and love. I began to understand better your will and what you wanted to do in and through my life. What was that? You wanted to change me into the person that you had planned that I would become. Have I been doing that for you? Yes, you most certainly have. You have also been showing me how you want to use me for your kingdom and glory. I now have a sense of purpose and hope that comes from you. I now know that I am bearing fruit through my life, with your help, that will last for eternity. Do you believe that the promise of secretly meeting with me has come true for you? Have I been rewarding you as you have met with me? Yes, Father, you most certainly have been rewarding me as I have met with you. Now I would not trade our time together for anything else in all of life. It is my joy to be in your presence. Just to know you and love you is reward enough.

Father, I know that you have been waiting for me to come to you in prayer. I have been busy and distracted by many things. Sorry, that I have kept you waiting. I am here now to wait and to listen to all that you have to say to me. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Matthew 6-6 – Pray To Your Father – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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