The Importance of a Secret Prayer Life
Scripture Readings Matthew 6:6-7
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Think back to when you were a kid, and you did something in front of your parents that made you proud. Whether it was scoring that game winning Home Run when you were playing baseball in little league, or simply creating the most profound and masterful piece of art when you were five and had to say “hey Mom look what i drew, do you like?” There were moments where we just loved showing off.
Let's face it, we all like to show off to a certain extent to show others what we're doing, things we’ve accomplished. It's in our fleshly nature. One thing we shouldn’t boast about to others is how spiritual we are. Don't take this the wrong way. It is great to be an example setter to others when it comes to prayer, faithfulness and service, but we ought not do it solely for attention and for self righteousness and praise.
Matthew 6:6-7 reads, 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. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Jesus is speaking to the people and warning them not to be this high and mighty person who thinks they're more spiritual than everyone else because they pray long prayers openly for attention and they’re bragging about all the service they’ve done.
Jesus is literally telling the people to go into a closet and pray secretly to God. Without any attention seeking and without anyone knowing. True communion with God is seeking him without the fanfare. To come to him quietly with humility because YOU need to walk with him on your own accord. Not because someone is telling you to do it, or because you're trying to seek favor from other people, but because you have business to take care of with you and the Lord.
Have you ever see those YouTube videos where people are buying meals for the homeless, but they need to have the whole video production crew out there with their cameras, microphones to record them doing it? Some will say they do it to inspire others, but do you ever think to yourself would they have done it without bragging about it on YouTube and gaining likes and attention?
Let us all come to the Lord with our prayers and supplications, and service humbly for the sole purpose of walking with him and do his will. We don't need to seek favor from anyone because we are ALL stained with sin and no one man is more righteous than another that we need to seek for favor of. The only one that is righteous is Jesus Christ. Isaiah Said it best in Isaiah 64:6A But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;. There is nothing we can do on our own to gain righteousness. The only thing we can do is to SEEK righteous and follow the Examples of our Lord.
Remember, Jesus paid it all. He didn’t do it for the attention or the fanfare. He did it because he loved us. He humbled himself on earth to become the standard of how we should live. Don’t live your life pleasing other people and seek favor in other people. If you do, you will soon learn that man will fail you. Even the greatest people you've ever known will fail you, but one thing is for sure.
GOD will never fail you. Lean on him today and remember what he said in our scripture reading today. Pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Stay humble, stay fervent in faith, and be an example setter of the Word. Do these things because you love the lord, not because you want to show off to other people to seek self righteousness. Let go of what man can do for you and seek what God can do for you. Hope this helps and stay blessed.