Close the Door (Matthew 6:5-6)

After a Sunday altar call

The day before, DeWayne watched a lot of people go forward for prayer at church. That stirred up Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount: don't pray like the hypocrites who perform on street corners. Go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father in secret.

What Jesus was correcting

The religious leaders prayed to be admired, and that admiration was all the reward they got. Jesus isn't banning group prayer, praying with your spouse, or a quick prayer in the car with your eyes open. He's going after motive.

An honest admission

DeWayne said most of his praying happens with his wife or on the road, and he rarely shuts himself away just with God. Busyness can hide a lack of real intimacy. One participant described the closeness that only comes in that private place, and the group remembered the movie War Room, where a woman clears out a closet to pray.

Try this

• Pick a spot, even a closet, and spend ten undistracted minutes with God this week.
• Leave time to be still and listen, not just talk.