Your Room

“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 NIV

I don’t know why Jesus had to tell those people to speak to him in private. Doesn’t it make perfect sense that if you are going to discuss private matters you would want to speak privately to God? Yet there are always those who take great delight in hearing their own voice! Public prayer is not the issue here because Jesus prayed publicly many times. The issue is the arrogance of praying loudly in front of others to bring attention and glory to you instead of God.

There is a time for public prayer and there is a time to pray in your room. For me I enjoy praying with other believers because I feel a sense of unity and support that is found in praying with other Christians. Even if I don’t pray a word out loud my heart can still connect with the hearts of others in the room and God is near. When a pastor or a leader is praying in church I too can silently affirm the words of the one who is speaking to God in behalf of all those present.

But if you really want to experience the “love connection” between you and God you need to get alone with God in your room. Now the room is just symbolic of any quiet place that is out of ear shot and eye shot of others. It can be in your room, in your car, on your porch, a place in nature where you are totally alone, or even in a church. It can be any place where you can be free of distractions and focus completely on God.

I find my attempt at this type of prayer solitude is often a challenge. You see, Satan often accompanies me to my prayer time no matter where I go. You may think that strange but really it is not. His sole intent is to keep our mind active in the affairs of our lives so that our prayer time is hindered. Satan understands that our power is found in our quiet moments of prayer, so he makes every effort to disrupt and interfere.

When I find that interference from Satan is present I simply say out loud, “Satan, in the name of Jesus Christ I command you to leave!” It works every time. The reason that I speak it out loud is because I don’t think Satan can know my thoughts. I believe that God guards our minds. When Satan confronted Jesus, Jesus always rebuked Satan audibly. So I choose to follow his example and do the same.

My time in solitude with Jesus is always special. The verse today says that God rewards what is done in secret, and he does.

Questions:

Have you learned the blessings of getting alone in “your room” to pray?

Have you come to realize that Satan wants to disrupt your prayer time?


Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Help me to be more intentional about the amount of time that I spend alone in “the room” praying. That place of total seclusion that is free from the distraction of people and my responsibilities. When I find that seclusion and pray I am truly at home in the garden of my heart. Thank you Lord that you reward those secluded times of prayer.

In Your Name I pray. Amen.