The Secret Prayers of Jesus
[5] “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. [6] But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:5–6 ESV
It is so difficult for some people, myself included, to do something really great and not tell somebody about it. Before a selfie was a thing, we still had trouble keeping our personal breakthroughs and victories to ourselves. Why should we keep things secret? Why should we not show our good deeds? Didn’t Jesus say “Let your light shine before men so they will see your works and give glory to your Father in heaven?”
Jesus knew our hearts then better than we know them today. He knew that prayer and poetry would ride a fine line for us. He knew that public speaking opportunities, even if it was ‘just’ to pray, would be exploited and turned into platforms to show off. So pray in secret, He says.
If we work the math, the reward for the prayer in public = the act of praying, and the reward for the act of praying in private = the act of praying + the answer. The act of praying and fellowship with the Lord is a worthy thing. It is better than the pat on the back about a good prayer or the honor of eloquent speech. The reward of prayer isn’t just in the act of doing it, unless that’s all you wanted to get out of it. God won’t force anything on you. If all you really wanted was the attention, God will give you that. But if you want your prayers to be answered, Jesus says, don’t make prayer the main thing; make God the main thing.
The other part of this is if you learn to pray secret prayers, you can pray anywhere! You can be praying while you chop wood or stand at the printer. You can engage and intercede with the Lord while you wash your hands in the bathroom on your break! “Pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Again, if God is the main thing, you’ll find yourself praying a lot!
Of course this isn’t a law. Jesus prayed in public numerous times, but He also said that sometimes His conversation with the Father was just for our sakes – so we could overhear it. Praying in secret gives you time to listen to the Lord and pray for the things He brings up. The way Jesus talked, secret prayer would end up being the major part of the praying Christians would do.
Not with a list
Not worrying if we are praying right
Not embarrassed to ask God for this or that
Not even focusing on finishing our sentences
And when the God who answers you and you know “That’s what I prayed for!” You’ll know if the time is right to share that answer or not. Sometimes the reward is the secret of knowing that it was an answer to a prayer, like a secret wink between you and the Lord.