Prayer
19.PrayerinSecret
Matthew6:6"Butthou,whenthouprayest,enterintothycloset, andwhenthouhastshutthydoor,praytothyFatherwhichisin secret;andthyFatherwhichseethinsecretshallrewardthee openly."
Meaning:Thephrase,"thyFatherwhichseethinsecret,shallreward theeopenly"ismentionedthreetimesinMatthew6,concerning giving,praying,andfasting.Publicprayerifnotsincere,canbefor one'sownrecognition,butnotsowithprivateprayer.Whenwepray insecretitisjustusandGod.RobertMurrayMcCheynewhowas knownforhisprayingsaid,"Icandonogoodtothosewhocometo seekfrommeifIhaveforgottenmytimealonewithGodintheearly morning.IfeelitisfarbettertobeginwithGod,toseeHisfacefirst, togetmysoulnearHimbeforeitisnearanother."
Application:Prayinginsecretislifechanging.Weseethisinthenightthat supplantingJacobwrestledwithGodinsecret untilmorning.Aftersuchatime,hewas turnedintoaprevailingprincewhohadpower withGod(Genesis32:24-32).Howcanwe expecttogrowintoGod'slikenessifwefail tospendanytimealonewithHim.Thesecret
OtherVersesforStudy:Genesis5:21-24;IKings19:4-18;IIKings 4:33;Matthew14:23;Luke3:2;Acts9:40;10:9
1.WhatthreethingswillGodseesecretlyandrewardopenly?
2.WhatwasJacobturnedintobecauseofsecretprayer?
3.Whereandwhendoyouprayinsecret?