Where is the most powerful place to pray?
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 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. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. (Matthew 6:5-8)
Jesus taught His disciples to pray.
He also mentions "when" we pray.
Meaning we are expected to pray.
Jesus is not saying that we can't pray publicly, it's prayers that come from the heart.
It's not praying to perform, but praying with a pure heart.
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have [refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
God looks at the heart!
So what does it mean when Jesus tells us to go into our room when we pray?
6 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)
That word "room", another translation says "closet", is Tameion in Greek.
Tameion - storage chamber, store room, inner chamber, secret room.
When you go into your room shut the door.
Did you know the heart has 4 chambers?
What if the Lord is telling us we need to go into the inner chambers of our heart when we pray?
God wants our heart!
13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
What your heart is tied to becomes your identity.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)
Purity attracts God.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)
When we pray, its a heart check.
It's not about a long prayer, it's about a prayer that is passionate, operative & desires for the Lord to truly move.
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16)
Fervent - to be operative, to be at work, put forth power, display one's activity.
Here are 10 truths around prayer:
#1 When you're prayerful, you're powerful.
#2 Prayer changes things, without prayer, things change you.
#3 If bae don't pray, bae ain't bae.
#4 Some people pray, some people prey.
#5 Prayer can move faster than your flesh.
#6 If it's big enough to worry about, it's big enough to pray about.
#7 Pray with me, don't play with me.
#8 What you're praying for requires both discipline & consistency.
#9 Get on your knees & pray, then get on your feet and work.
#10 Thank God for living prayers you've prayed for.
There's a story of a man of God that was once asked "What do you get when you pray".
And the man of God answered, "Nothing, but let me tell you what I lose..."
"I lose anxiety, fear, depression, doubt, unbelief, suicidal thoughts..."
Sometimes it's not always about what we GAIN, but what we LOSE.
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 16:25)
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