⁵ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. ⁶ But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:5-6

When we pray to our father, not as a corporate body, but as an individual, our prayers are between me and God. I don’t need to “Put on a Show” before the people around me, there is no need, unless the entire motive is for them to hear my prayer. That would be the reward!

But we are to go to a private place, to a closet, and shut the door and pray in secret, this way only the Father above knows our prayer, He knows our heart, He knows our petition.

Our Heavenly Father knows our prayers before we ask, but the asking is where he is refining our hearts. He shows us our sins, and we ask for forgiveness. We are in communion with Him, and the thoughts of our hearts aren’t even uttered, but he know. And this is where I learn to trust.

I know my petitions, and I see the direction he’s moving me. Currently I’m just asking for protection from the Evil One, who keeps attacking me. Seems like a new dread is around each morning, but each morning brings a sweet time of communion with God. My fears are revealed, because I know there is nothing my Father can not do.

I know my current trouble are the results of my sins, both sins of omission and sins of commission. I know that I’ve often failed to pray, and that God is allowing the evil one, his time, but that I will one day be glorified, and my hope is placed not here in this fallen world, but on the Eternal, to spend My best life with Him in Glory.

Lord, you know the darkest parts of my soul, and you bring me to life. May I bring glory to your name, even when things are as bad as they can be, which honestly, I don’t think I can comprehend. My life is still protected by your sovereign and capable hand, and though this world seems to be shuttering and breaking into peaces, you Lord still have the entire world in your eternal grip.