Jesus told us in Matthew 6:6 to enter our "closets" and to pray to our Father in secret. He was referring to the storage rooms included in Israeli homes in the first century. Because most families in those days were filled with children and animals -- there was little privacy. But most houses had a room for storing supplies. It would have been a small room, crowded and unheated. But it was a place where one could find a few moments of peace and quiet for prayer. For the believer, Jesus said, such a humble spot provides direct access into the presence of God Himself. It's a secure communications complex where prayers can be rendered and rewarded.
Dr. Samuel D. Gordon, in his classic 1904 book, Quiet Talks on Prayer, spoke of the kind of people who take advantage of this. "It is wholly a secret service, " he said. "We do not know who these people are...I often think that sometimes we pass some plain-looking woman quietly slipping out of church...and do not know, nor guess, that perhaps she is the one who is doing far more for her church, and for the world, and for God than a hundred who would claim more attention and thought, because she prays; truly prays as the Spirit of God inspires and guides.
Then Dr. Gordon said something interesting about praying for the global missionary task: "A man may go aside today and shut his door, and as really spend a half-hour in India... (as if he were actually there)...Without any doubt, he may turn the key and be for a bit of time as potentially in China by the power of prayer as though there in actual bodily form."
One of the benefits of our Christian faith is the privilege of instant, direct access to heaven's throne. The line is always open. The Lord is always attentive. Romans 5:2 says that "we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand."
To take advantage of this benefit, we must cultivate a set of personal practices involving prayer. It's helpful to have a regular time and place for daily prayer. Many Christians have learned to begin the day with a time of Bible study and prayer as Jesus did in Mark 1:35. Some of us call this by a certain title --our "Quiet Time" or "Morning Watch," or our "Daily Devos."
For other people, the evening is best, or even the lunch break. Find the time that works with your schedule, but make time. To quote Dr. Gordon again: "The great people of the earth today are the people who pray. I do not mean those who talk about prayer; nor those who say they believe in prayer; nor yet those who can explain about prayer; but I mean these people who take time and pray. They have not time. It must be taken from something else. This something else is important --very important, and pressing, but still less important and less pressing than prayer. There are people that put prayer first, and group the other items in life's schedule around and after prayer. These are the people today who are doing the most for God..."
Of course, our prayers are not limited to our daily devotional time. We're to pray without ceasing. Dr. Stephen Olford, the British expositor, once said he never placed a phone call without pausing to ask God to bless it. Dr. Michael Guido, the radio evangelist, said that he prayed every morning while brushing his teeth that God would give him wise words to say; and as he washed his face, he asked God to give him a cheerful countenance for the day.
We should learn to pause before answering a difficult question, as Nehemiah did: "Then the king said to me, 'What do you request?' So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king..." (Nehemiah 2:4-5).
Let's also learn to end the evening in prayer, thanking God as we fall asleep for some of the specific blessings we've encountered during the day. Psalm 92:1-2 says: "it is good...to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night."
Your Benefits Package by Dr David Jeremiah
Dr. Samuel D. Gordon, in his classic 1904 book, Quiet Talks on Prayer, spoke of the kind of people who take advantage of this. "It is wholly a secret service, " he said. "We do not know who these people are...I often think that sometimes we pass some plain-looking woman quietly slipping out of church...and do not know, nor guess, that perhaps she is the one who is doing far more for her church, and for the world, and for God than a hundred who would claim more attention and thought, because she prays; truly prays as the Spirit of God inspires and guides.
Then Dr. Gordon said something interesting about praying for the global missionary task: "A man may go aside today and shut his door, and as really spend a half-hour in India... (as if he were actually there)...Without any doubt, he may turn the key and be for a bit of time as potentially in China by the power of prayer as though there in actual bodily form."
One of the benefits of our Christian faith is the privilege of instant, direct access to heaven's throne. The line is always open. The Lord is always attentive. Romans 5:2 says that "we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand."
To take advantage of this benefit, we must cultivate a set of personal practices involving prayer. It's helpful to have a regular time and place for daily prayer. Many Christians have learned to begin the day with a time of Bible study and prayer as Jesus did in Mark 1:35. Some of us call this by a certain title --our "Quiet Time" or "Morning Watch," or our "Daily Devos."
For other people, the evening is best, or even the lunch break. Find the time that works with your schedule, but make time. To quote Dr. Gordon again: "The great people of the earth today are the people who pray. I do not mean those who talk about prayer; nor those who say they believe in prayer; nor yet those who can explain about prayer; but I mean these people who take time and pray. They have not time. It must be taken from something else. This something else is important --very important, and pressing, but still less important and less pressing than prayer. There are people that put prayer first, and group the other items in life's schedule around and after prayer. These are the people today who are doing the most for God..."
Of course, our prayers are not limited to our daily devotional time. We're to pray without ceasing. Dr. Stephen Olford, the British expositor, once said he never placed a phone call without pausing to ask God to bless it. Dr. Michael Guido, the radio evangelist, said that he prayed every morning while brushing his teeth that God would give him wise words to say; and as he washed his face, he asked God to give him a cheerful countenance for the day.
We should learn to pause before answering a difficult question, as Nehemiah did: "Then the king said to me, 'What do you request?' So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king..." (Nehemiah 2:4-5).
Let's also learn to end the evening in prayer, thanking God as we fall asleep for some of the specific blessings we've encountered during the day. Psalm 92:1-2 says: "it is good...to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night."
Your Benefits Package by Dr David Jeremiah
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