Magnificent Prayer #19
Magnificent Prayer #19
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 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 6:5–6
The prayer life is a lonely life. The hypocrite requires an audience when he prays. He wants to be heard when he prays. He must impress.
True prayer requires sincerity. True prayer requires purity. In heaven there will be no praying. All the faith we exercise must be exercised here. All the praying must be done here, for heaven will not be a place to make up a pitiable backlog of unfinished praying.
LEONARD RAVENHILL
Pray About It: Maybe part of our reluctance to head for our prayer closets is because it shuts us out from all our earthly social relations. And of course, from God’s viewpoint, that’s the distinct advantage to solitary prayer.
Today, as you get alone to pray, remember that you’re never really alone when you’re with God. You are, in fact, never less alone than when sitting at His feet.
Relish your time in His presence. It’s the best time you’ll ever have on this earth.
True prayer is a lonely business.
SAMUEL CHADWICK
From the book
