But when you pray, go into your room…
Summary: The Sermon on the Mount includes some very specific instructions from our Lord. In the middle of the sermon, Jesus tells us how to pray.
As I stare at the words of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount,” I notice that the Lord’s Prayer was not just haphazardly dropped into the middle of Jesus’ sermon. It is, instead, part of a fabric that Jesus wove with the words in his sermon. Like an ornate tapestry, the threads weave in and out but are still all connected.
The sermon is full of “do’s” and “do not’s.” The “Do not’s” are often spelled out while the “do’s” are implied. One of the “do’s” involves how to pray: Jesus says “go into your room.”
I have to confess that I sort of bridle at being told to ‘go to my room.’ The last time that happened, I was probably a teenager in full ‘mouthing off’ mode. Then there is the part about being told what to do. Who likes that?
But there is a larger issue here. Jesus is showing us how to pray to an invisible God. The full text says:
“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)
Having an invisible God is a bit like having a pretend friend. When you talk to him, people might think you are crazy. The other possibility is that people might think you are showing off. Then there is the other invisible thing: our egos.
God is not the only invisible being. Oddly enough, we are mostly invisible, too. Our thoughts, emotions, feelings, and ideas are all very personal and very invisible to those not living in our heads. Yes, we give others clues to what we are thinking by the expressions on our faces and the words that we say, but this is not the same thing as knowing our thoughts firsthand.
So how does a mostly invisible being communicate with a completely invisible being?
Jesus tells us to go to some place where we can be alone. Some place quiet, without distractions, and preferably with a door that can be closed. Sometimes the best we can do is to close our eyes and be in our heads. If possible, though, having a place to be alone is the best.
Then pray in secret.
Don’t make a big deal of it. Don’t tell others about it. Don’t make a show of it. This is a private conversation between you and God.
Don’t know what to say?
Jesus tells us. The Lord’s prayer is a beautifully concise prayer that is exactly what you would expect from the one who created us. We will talk more about what is in the prayer (Lord willing!) but for now, let’s consider Jesus’ instructions for how to pray. Go into your room and close the door. Pray in secret.
Application: Try it!
Food for Thought: The Lord’s Prayer is rather short. Going into a room, closing the door, and praying the Lord’s Prayer takes very little time. What keeps us from wanting to do this?
What keeps us from wanting to do this?
I find often that my 4-year old never wants to do things the way I instruct unless he is at his end on something and can’t make it work. I find that same thing happening sometimes between myself and the Lord. Sometimes I think I need to “prepare” myself or “get my heart right first.” This is me adding something to my prayer life with God, instead of coming to Him “just as I am.”
I think sometimes too, I don’t want to talk about some things, and I know once I get into the room it is going to come up.
So the short answer would be too much pride and too much fear. Praying the Lord’s Prayer earnestly, just even the very words Jesus used, removes both of those. Its a bit like not taking your medicine, even though you know it will heal you, because you want to be one holding the spoon, or you are afraid of the taste.
Chris,
I appreciate your response! I love the analogy of your 4 year old, and I, too, struggle with pride and fear. Oh… and stubbornness. 🙂 Thank God that our God is loving, patient, and gracious.
I think a large part of what Jesus was trying to get us to do is to not put on a show. I think we tend to like to get credit from others for what we do. That is why I like the person at the counter see me put in a tip in the tip jar. I would rather be seen doing so then put money in when no one is looking.
By going to our room and praying in private, the only one we are trying to please us God Himself. Of course, Jesus also prayed publicly. So did the church (Acts 4: 23 – 31; Acts 13: 1 – 3 as examples) and the public prayers of Solomon, Hezekiah and Jehoshaphat were very important. But praying in private is only for God’s benefit. If we are not willing to do that, we probably should not be praying in public either.
Rich,
Excellent points! I really like your conclusion: If we are not willing to pray in private, we probably shouldn’t be praying in public either.
I would just add this caveat: Your comment is obviously directed to the mature believer. For those of us learning to pray, praying in public is our training ground. So we begin by praying in public, but as we mature, we learn to pray directly to the Father as Jesus taught us. But for those of us who have been hanging around church for awhile, we need to be maturing and spending time with Father in private.
10-20-2022, Matthew 6:6, The Lord’s Prayer is rather short. Going into a room, closing the door, and praying the Lord’s Prayer takes very little time. What keeps us from wanting to do this?
In Matthew 5:30, Jesus says, “ If your right hand offend thee, cut it off.” Yet was not saying we should physically cut our hand off.
In Luke 8:4-10 Jesus explained why He spoke in parables, ( a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual truth, as told by Jesus in the Gospels. ) “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. ”
Matthew 13:10-11, “And the disciples came, and said unto Him, Why do you speak unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto YOU to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but unto them it is NOT given.”
Matthew 7:6, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”
Jesus is teaching God’s truths for our sake. We have the Holy Spirit to help us as we with a righteous heart seek to fully understand the truths our Father wants us to know today. Our maturing process is a moment by moment daily application of God’s truths as we understand, them.
The Lord’s Prayer is a Great gift from God. It is our path to righteousness and peace and should become a way of life, not simply daily going into a room, shutting the door, saying the prayer and going about our life. We should prayerfully study every word and apply God’s revelation to our lives so we can live as one who prays without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Ron,
Thank you! I think the reason for this meditation is to do exactly what you propose: “prayerfully study every word and apply God’s revelation to our lives so we can live as one who prays without ceasing.”
I was having a conversation with a beautiful girl about this. I told her that the opportunity to pray is always there without the door closed in a room, but if you need to whenever I wake up in the morning the door is closed and I’m alone. I just need to remember prayer before getting up. If I fail to remember to pray God has been kind enough to allow another few times in my day driving alone. I know it’s not in secret but nobody’s going to hear you no matter how loud you pray except our Father in heaven………. unless you drive a convertible…or your a Bus driver, or ride a motorcycle but they don’t have doors
Tim,
Nice to see you here again! You are absolutely right about being able to pray under any circumstance. Our Father is always listening, always aware of us and our needs.
What keeps us from wanting to do this?
Because we’re lazy
Because it’s not an efficient use of time to go away from all of our distractions
Because we’ll do it later
Because we forget
Because we feel guilty
Because we’re not in for need of it today
Because of kids
Because of work
Or maybe…. because any excuse to put intentionality into a relationship, especially with someone we can’t see, is more than we’re willing to put in.
I am guilty of this. If I can’t see what I need to do I put it off. Even though I’ve seen and experienced the power of prayer and see the lies in all of the excuses, I still put it off. All I have to do is open my mouth and talk to God about anything, and I still put it off.
Sin sucks.
A,
Sin does indeed “suck” as you put it.
I appreciate your conciseness:
“Or maybe…. because any excuse to put intentionality into a relationship, especially with someone we can’t see, is more than we’re willing to put in.
Intentionality in any relationship is something that is worth learning and something that is needed. We have a choice between attempting domination and control or self-sacrifice and giving. When it comes to our Father, he sets the bar for both self-sacrifice and giving, a worthy model for us in our relationships as well as our relationship with him.
A lot of times I pray with my mind and my mouth shut because I don’t want the devil to be listening in on my conversation with God. I know God hears even the un-audible prayers.
I pray for and with the crew every morning before they shut the door’s to the work truck’s and take off for the day. My voice is audible, but I have noticed after I say Amen, there are one or two with their heads still bowed, obviously in either deep thought or a silent un-audible prayer to the only One that can hear our unspoken requests.
I feel shutting the door and praying out loud is in sort of a reflection of what He has done and what I would like for Him to do, even though He has already done it all, I still shut the door and ask for more. It never fails,.. Just as He has never failed me in and with my spoken and unspoken requests.
Thank you, John.
I love the stories you share about ministering to your work crew.