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“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.“ (Matt 6:6 NIV84) [see these verses in their context below]
Prayer is universal
Prayer is one of the simplest and most common elements of faith and religion and one of the most misunderstood.
A myriad of books have been written about prayer and many books of collected prayers exist in many religions of the world—the Church of England’s Common Book of Prayer, the Breviary or Book of Hours of the Roman Catholic church, the Jewish book of prayer Siddur, Haridas the prayer book of Hindus, and Salat the Muslim prayer book.
Of course, the Psalms in the Scriptures are a collection of 150 prayers and songs with a wide range of emotion and focus. They are a great source of solace with examples of earnest prayer.
Prayer is universal to all humanity. As the old saying goes, there are no atheists in fox holes or on sinking ships. Although it’s an overstated and general saying, there is some truth to it.
By far, more people in the world pray than do not. Most vocal atheists who pride themselves in their intellectual prowess have a narrow view of people of faith and religion, as well as a limited perspective on the many cultures and people groups of the world.
I’m not saying all prayer is the same nor that all religious faith is the same. But prayer in some form—even dark demonic forms—is a means of spiritual communication common to all people throughout the world.
What is not the same is the form of people’s prayers, the wording or languages used in prayer, or their focus in prayer—who it’s directed to and why.
Insights to consider
When we focus on the form and wording of prayer we tend to make it complicated and formal. Many people feel the need for some guidance and form to prayer, especially when praying out loud. Formalized prayers definitely have their place as we see in the next segment of verses in this chapter of Matthew.
But in this segment, Jesus gives two admonitions about prayer—don’t show off and don’t babble.
I’ve prayed out loud and in public a lot. It goes with the territory of pastoral and public ministry. At times, probably too many times, I’ve rambled on with seemingly eloquent words. In truth, they aren’t so eloquent even if someone says they are. I’ve also been at a loss for words in prayer in public settings.
What’s more important to me—and I believe the Lord also—is that my prayer is genuine, honest, and personal. Even if it comes in a jumbled, halting swirl of words.
I’ve heard eloquent words in prayer that seem to fall to the floor rather than rise to heaven. I’ve also heard simple-worded prayers that inspire.
As far as the Lord is concerned—eloquence and repetition are not secrets to successful prayer—whatever successful prayer is considered to be. And yet, these two types of prayer are all too often the norm.
Why is this so? First of all, pride. Spiritual pride, as with religious righteousness, is the primary issue with the first admonition of the Lord on prayer in these verses. Self tends to take prominence over God and whatever is the intended purpose of the prayer.
Repetition in prayer is like a petulant child insisting on what they want in an effort to wear down their parents to give in to them. God doesn’t respect or want this type of prayer. It isn’t confidence and trust in God but the direct opposite, as if repetitive effort on our part will get the desired answer to our prayer.
True Religion
Jesus says we are to pray in private rather than make a public spectacle of prayer. Not all prayer needs to be private. But Jesus is concerned with the motivation of the heart in prayer rather than its form.
When I was a young believer reading this in my KJV Bible, I—along with many others—took what it says literally—
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; (Matt 6:6 KJV)
This was before walk-in closets were common! In our first house, we had a four-foot by four-foot square closet in our bedroom. When I felt the need to concentrate in prayer and pour my heart out to God, I would clear a spot inside the closet to kneel and pray.
I still prefer to pray in a quiet place out of sight. Not only for privacy but for concentration because my mind tends to wander. I can also be confident and assured the Lord hears and honors my honest and genuine prayer that is neither eloquent nor repetitive.
As far as repetition goes, Jesus called it “babbling.” He says this is what pagans do—those who are strangers to God. The word pagan or heathen has many connotations but here it refers to people without a personal relationship with God.
Jesus is identifying people who are outsiders. They are neither children of God nor citizens of God’s Kingdom but stand outside babbling to gain God’s attention as if clanging away on pots and pans.
Jesus says this is unnecessary and fruitless when we know Him personally. God knows of us even when we don’t know Him. But when we know Him and He is living in us by His Spirit—He knows our needs before we voice them.
Someone is sure to ask, “If God already knows our needs why do we need to pray?” God calls us into a partnership with Him as fellow citizens of His Kingdom. A great promise for followers of Jesus is being His friend (John 15:12-15) and co-heirs with Him (Gal 3:29; 4:6-7).
Our partnership with God as His children and citizens of His Kingdom begins with our trusting God by faith when we pray.
Do you pray in faith and confidence? Or, do you get hung up on how your prayer should sound? Prayer is about trusting in God.
Reflection—
Jesus is concerned with the motivation of our hearts in prayer rather than its form. He calls us into a partnership with Him as fellow citizens of His Kingdom through prayer. Trusting in the Lord by faith is far more important than the words or form of our prayers.
Prayer Focus—
When you pray, make it a personal dialog of trust in God. Don’t worry about how your prayer sounds but open your heart to Him by faith. Be confident in His faithfulness and willingness to hear your prayer.
Devo Scripture Text
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
“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.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
(Matthew 6:1-18 NIV84)