God sees what we do in private, and private prayer is where trust is built.
“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.”Matthew 6:6 (KJV)
What does “Secret” mean in Matthew 6:6?
The word closet in the King James means a private room. Jesus is describing prayer that is not for show, only for the Father who sees.
Going deeper
Jesus warns against praying to be seen by other people. Prayer that is a performance gets its reward from the audience and no more. He offers a different picture: go into a private room, shut the door, and pray to your Father which is in secret. The audience is one. That may sound lonely, but Jesus says the Father sees in secret and rewards openly, which means He is attentive and generous.
The end of the first week of Lent is a good time to build a private habit. Find a place and a time where you will not be interrupted, even if it is only ten minutes. Say what is on your mind without polishing it. Listen a little. Small, faithful, hidden prayer is the root of a life that grows steady in public. God is watching with love, not with a stopwatch. Start small, and let it grow at its own pace, and you may find that the hidden place becomes the one you look forward to most.
Reflect
Where and when could you set aside ten quiet minutes each day to pray in private?
Pray
Father, You see me in secret. Draw me into private prayer, and let it become the root of my whole life. In Jesus' name, amen.
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