Lindsay Roberts
Have you ever felt like you didn’t know how to pray? Jesus knew that we might not understand how to pray, therefore He gave us some guidelines for developing a prayer relationship with the heavenly Father so we can get our prayers answered.
Jesus said:
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 (Matthew 6:5).
Maybe you’ve seen the type of person Jesus was talking about. You know, those who make sure everyone sees them praying in church, but when they go home they live like the devil. It’s all a “show.” They shouldn’t be surprised when their prayers aren’t answered.
In the next verse, Jesus tells us to get into an atmosphere of prayer: 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 (v. 6).
Now Jesus doesn’t mean you actually have to go into your closet, push your shoes and clothes aside, and sit there and pray. He is saying to get along with God in some quiet place, if only in your thoughts, and begin to pray in earnest, in sincerity, out of your heart. Being alone with the Father, with no other eyes upon you but His, gives you the freedom to be open and totally honest with Him. It can help you begin to develop an intimate, loving relationship between you and God which opens the door for your prayers to be answered.
