Matthew 6: 6

But you, when you pray, enter into your room. And shutting your door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly.

This is a strange contrast to our normal way of thinking (e.g., "I connect best with God when I can get away for everthing, get outside, and 'connect with nature'"). I would have expected that Jesus would have said something like "But you, when you pray, get away from it all, your family, friends, and all distractions. Get away from the hustle and bustle of your town or your farm into the natural environment that I created for you to enjoy a meaningful relationship with me. And when you have gotten away from it all, pray to your Father ...". Maybe one of the things that Jesus wants to get across here is for us to learn to pray right where we normally live.

One thing is really clear here, that Jesus expects us to connect intimately with Him as an individual, not only as part of a group of believers.

Matthew 6: 5

And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.

Note: While this is not where Jesus responded to the apostles' request to teach them to pray (that is in Luke 11 and contains a shorter version of this prayer), it is more extensive and teaches more than just the prayer to pray, so I felt it is a better source for study and reflection. This text is from the Sermon on the Mount.

Observations:

1) Jesus assumed his listeners were in the habit of praying.
2) Hypocrites pray also, in fact they love to pray
3) We can pray for the wrong reason ... to be seen by men
4) Those who pray to be seen by men have their reward (they are seen / praised by men)

Reflections:

Just as it is normal and expected for people who have or are building a relationship to have conversations, it is normal and expected that we talk (have conversations) with God as we build our relationship with Him. What an awesome opportunity and privilege it is to have a conversation with the Creator of the Universe! And we squander and ignore that privilege so often. Lord, help me to deeply appreciate and exercise that privilege daily and to truly recognize it as a privilege, not a duty.

Michael shared with me this morning that he often feels that he prays 'better' (more fluently?) when praying with others. I often feel the same way. I'm not sure of the reason, but I hope that it is not because of this hypocritical desire to be seen by men, to be respected by my spiritual peers, leaders, and followers. Lord, help me to love to pray and for the right reasons.

The Starting Point

I have been challenged in many ways recently to grow in the area of prayer, most significantly from Ephesians 6 in a study on the armor of God. I noticed that prayer was not listed in the armor, but my wife pointed out that Paul talks about prayer extensively immediately following the list of armor. Later, I sensed God saying that "prayer is the battle" and have had this confirmed in a number of ways. Just this week I was thinking that Jesus's answer to the apostles' request to "Lord, teach us to pray" was what we call the Lord's prayer. I recognized that since this is what He concluded He needed to teach His closest associates about prayer, I should hold it it higher esteem and study it deeply to understand it better. Thus, I begin a study of The Lord's Prayer and my friend Michael Weiss will be joining me in this. Feel free to add your input also if you would like. I will primarily be looking at Matthew 6: 5-15, shown here in the Modern King James Version:

5 And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.
6 But you, when you pray, enter into your room. And shutting your door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly.
7 But when you pray, do not babble vain words, as the nations. For they think that in their much speaking they shall be heard.
8 Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask Him.
9 Therefore pray in this way: Our Father, who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread;
12 and forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you;
15 but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.