The Prayer Filled Life – The Prayer Filled Life – Day 77 – Matthew 6-5-8 – When You Pray – Growing As Disciples
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 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. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:5-8 (NIV)
Shut The Door
Why is that important? Why is what important? Why is it important that you go into your room, shut the door, and pray to me? That sounds like withdrawing from the noise and busyness of the world. That looks like setting a very specific time and place to meet with you. That no doubt has a very clear purpose and agenda in mind of meeting with you. That involves developing an intimate relationship with you. That requires a clear priority and definite commitment from me. You are correct in your thinking. All your thoughts are right on target.
Will you set aside a daily time to go into your room, shut the door, and pray to me? How is that for a very clear and specific question for you to answer? Yes, I will meet with you in prayer. I will withdraw from the noise and busyness of the world so that I can hear from you. I will develop an intimate relationship with you. I will seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will make my wants and needs know to you. I will tell you what is on my heart and in my mind. I will listen attentively to all that you have to say to me. To meet with you, in this way, is not burdensome to me. I want to love and follow and serve you with all that is within me. There is no place I would rather be than in your presence. There nothing I would rather do than live a life of intimacy with you. I want to know you. I want you to know me. Then we both want the same thing.
What will happen to you when you make it your daily practice to meet with me in prayer? I will more passionately come to know and love and follow and serve you. I will begin to pray prayers that you can hear and answer. I will more powerfully live the life that you have called me to live. This life will be rewarding both now and favor. You will do in and through me what only you can do. You will make me able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. You will help me to store up treasure in heaven with you. Yes, all these things will be true as you live an intimate life of prayer with me. Thank you, Heavenly Father.
Heavenly Father, I will go into my room, shut the door, and meet with you in secret times of prayer. I will make my needs know to you. I will humbly get to the point. I will not use an abundance of words. Teach me how to pray as I meet with you. Amen
Key Question… When are you going into your room, shutting your door, and praying to your Heavenly Father?
Living It Out… Make it your daily private practice to meet in secret, private prayer, with your Heavenly Father.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will be rewarded for meeting in secret, private prayer with your Heavenly Father.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your private prayer time with your Heavenly Father is developing.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your Heavenly Father.
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