“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrite. For they love to pray in synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by man. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward … But you, when you pray, go into your room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly. And when praying, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore, do not be like them, for your Father knows the things you have need before you ask Him.”(Matthew 6:5-8).
It can be difficult for us to avoid this. Indeed, prayer is “for others,” not for Him.
“Go into your room” – literally or spiritually – there is no difference. Here it talks of secret prayer, which is a privilege. It has an advantage. This is an honest prayer.
The general idea of this message from Jesus is that the Lord wants us to know the nature of prayer. He wants us to know its reason and essence.
Prayer can be not only in words, but also by the spirit and heart. Even in silence, seeking the Lord, worship. The Lord speaks about the quality of prayer.
Prayer must be there. And its quality is not in many words. What’s the secret? Jesus draws attention to the wrong things – not to conform with heathen in their many words, not to be like hypocrites that pray before people. The Lord leads us into mystery, into quality.
What shouldn’t one ask for? There is no need to pray against what is ultimately determined: for example, that the antichrist may not come – because, as it is written in the Word, “they are already in our midst”; or for the earth to be restored, to recover to its original condition – this will never happen; or praying about Israel against the will of God for her; or asking for something sinful that God hates; there is also no point in praying for what we already have – we are fabulously blessed in Him.
What then should one ask for? First of all, praise Him! Second – remind the promises: take the promises of God for you, for the church, for the Kingdom, because in Christ Jesus all are “yes” and “amen”; remind the promises to God and to yourself. Third, proclaim what God Himself said, take His Words and speak them with your own lips.
This will be a useful prayer, this is beauty!