12 Secret Prayer

Secret Prayer

"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before." Daniel 6:10 "And all things, whatever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive." Matthew 21:22

"The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express!" Romans 8:26

"But when you pray, go into your closet, 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 This is a precept of our blessed Savior, who had just declared that it was a proof of hypocrisy to make long prayers in public, "in the streets and in the synagogues." That is, to make prayers in public only. It is a duty to join in public devotion. We are forbidden to "forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is," and great blessings are promised where "two or three agree as concerning anything" which they will ask of God. But many people love to pray "in the synagogue to be seen by men" — who pray nowhere else. They delight in the display and the excitement of a prayer-meeting — but have no relish for the secret closet with God. These are hypocrites. Indeed, they do not pray at all, for the man who does not pray in "secret" — does not pray at all.

"When you pray." Prayer then should have its appropriate season. A portion of time should be set apart for a work of such grave import. It must not be left to chance — to be done when we can do nothing else. We must retire from the world, from business, into our "closets" — to our hearts.

It is a duty which demands recollection, calmness, and honest, uninterrupted self-examination. Many Christians have no set time for prayer. They pray when they feel like it — when they feel drawn to this duty. They think it formal — a kind of spiritual bondage — to obey any rule in their devotions. Many professors satisfy themselves with offering occasional prayers in the midst of employment, or in company, and think that in this way they pray in secret. Others are content with kneeling down by their bedsides when they retire at night, and when they rise in the morning.

Why, if this is sufficient, did our Savior bid us to "enter into the closet and shut the door?" Why all this particularity, this minuteness of detail? Does it mean nothing? Will He accept the fitful, convenient petitions of those who, through indolence, or irreverence, or haste, slight His commandments, and follow their own imaginations?

This, which to many may appear a very small matter, is often productive of very important effects. Partly because the blessed Savior is more likely to meet and "reward" those who render a humble and simple obedience — and partly because people who do not think prayer a work of such magnitude as to require the appropriation of special and regular seasons, will very soon cease to pray altogether. Or if they pray at all, it will no longer be "in spirit and in truth." The Father who sees in secret, shall see there no real devotion. A few vain repetitions, a few unmeaning confessions, a few "groans," which the heart never utters: the sad countenance, and the religious attitude — are the wretched substitutes which we often present before God, in the place of true spiritual worship. The "reward" of this disobedience, the fruit of "sowing to the flesh," will soon become manifest.

While the humble disciple who follows the command of his Lord with a simple child-like obedience, and night and morning "enters into his closet, shuts the door, and prays to the Father who sees in secret," shall "grow in grace," be strengthened with "might in the inner man," and be thus enabled "to walk in newness of life." The careless professor, who is "wise above what is written," who is too spiritual to heed times and seasons, who only prays when feeling prompts, when sorrow oppresses, or when the voice of the multitude excites or lauds his devotions — becomes as "clouds without water — trees whose fruit withers, twice dead plucked up by the roots!"

How strange that guilty worms of the earth should attempt to prescribe the terms upon which they will receive grace and crowns of glory! How strange that Christians should ever fail to follow the example and precepts of their Lawgiver with a universal and grateful submission!

We are ignorant. We know not how to pray as we ought, nor what to pray for. We lift up our voice to the Great Teacher to "teach us how to pray." He condescends to direct our erring footsteps. He bids us "enter into our closets, and when we have shut the door, to pray to the Father who sees in secret."

Brother, have you found out a more excellent way? What hour of devotion has left the holiest savor upon your soul? When did you feel the adorable Redeemer most near and most precious? When was the world most effectually stripped of its gaudy charms? When did your faith most deeply realize the "unseen?" When did you go forth to your "warfare" as "a strongman armed?"

Doubtless you found these blessings in the secret closet, alone with God. There seek them in all future time. It is Christ’s audience chamber, and nowhere else can you come so near to the throne of grace.

"Heavenly Father, teach me how to pray. Teach me to pray in faith; in all humility and lowliness; with perseverance. Teach me to approach Your footstool with filial fear, and with all boldness and freedom of utterance, pleading the promises in the name of Him in whom they all are Yes and Amen. Teach me, O God, to enter into my closet, and shut the door, and pray to my Father who sees and hears in secret. May the Spirit pray within me. May the Savior pray for me. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer! Amen."

"Come to the morning prayer,
Come let us kneel and pray;
Prayer is the Christian’s pilgrim’s staff,
To walk with God all day.

"At noon beneath the Rock
Of Ages rest and pray;
Sweet is the shadow from the heat,
When the sun smites by day.

"At eve shut to the door,
Round the home-altar pray,
And finding there ’the house of God’
At Heaven’s gate close the day.

"When midnight seals our eyes
Let each in spirit say,
I sleep, but my heart wakes, Lord,
With You to watch and pray!"