There is much to be learned about this tremendous privilege. It is without dispute, the most important thing we give ourselves to. So much of the time it is hard to "get there" and when we do, the conflict begins. Read Oswald Chambers thoughts on this. They are so helpful.
"When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and...pray to thy Father which is in secret." Matthew 6:6
Jesus did not say-Dream about thy Father in secret, but pray to thy Father in secret. Prayer is an effort of will. After we have entered our secret place and have shut the door, the most difficult thing to do is pray; we cannot get our minds into working order, and the first thing that conflicts is wandering thoughts. The great battle in private prayer is the overcoming of mental wool-gathering. We have to discipline our minds and concentrate on willful prayer.
We must have a selected place for prayer and when we get there the plague of flies begins - This needs to be done, and I have to do that today. Jesus says to "Shut thy door." A secret silence means to shut the door deliberately on emotions and remember God! God is in secret, and He sees us from the secret place. He does not see us as others see us or as we see ourselves. When we live in the secret place, it becomes impossible for us to doubt God, and we become more sure of Him than anyone or anything else. Your Father, Jesus says, is in secret and nowhere else. Enter the secret place, and you will find God was there in the middle of your everyday circumstances all the time. Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything. Unless in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day! (...think about this in light of the daunting responsibilities, tasks and leadership posts this life brings us at home, work and church). But swing the door wide open and pray to your Father in secret, and every public thing will be stamped with the lasting imprint of the presence of God!
Soak in these great thoughts...sup with Him. He wants it...and we need it.
Blessed,
Mitch
