Alone With God
"But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly" (Matthew 6:6).
Dear ,
The best way to get to know a person intimately is to spend time alone together. This is true of all our earthly relationships, and is also true in our relationship with God our Father. But where can you and I go to be alone with God? Fortunately, the Bible has the answer: In your room! In Matthew 6:6, Jesus says: "Go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place."
In this verse, Jesus shows us how we can turn our common bedrooms and living rooms into holy sanctuaries where we may meet one-on-one with God. To achieve this, there are three things we must do: 1. Go into your room. 2. Shut the door. 3. Pray to your Father.
Go Into Your Room: Every Christian ought to have a "secret place" where he can meet daily with God. In Bible times, most Jewish homes had a small upper room that was used for this purpose. Although our homes are not designed this way today, any solitary place will do, even outdoors. Jesus "Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed" (Luke 5:16).
Shut The Door: When God spoke to Elijah at Mount Horeb, He spoke in a still small voice. To hear God clearly you and I need to shut out those things that compete for our attention. This can include dealing with distracting thoughts. One way you can do this is by reading scripture. (I find it helpful to commence times of prayer by reading and meditating on the psalms).
Pray To The Father: As you go to prayer, let your heart rest in the fact that God is a loving Father. He longs to hear your voice, and desires to make Himself known to you. Open up your heart before Him, and bask in the warmth of His love. Thank Him for inviting you into His presence and begin to worship Him: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name..." (Matt 6:9).
When you begin to pray this way, you may feel a little awkward at first, and that's okay. Learning to pray is like learning to drive a motor car - the more you do it, the more comfortable you will feel and the more you will enjoy it. So don't be hasty; give yourself time, and always rely on the Holy Spirit to help you. With His help, you will reap the rich rewards of time alone with God.
In His strong love,
Demitri
