Shut the door!

When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father. – Matthew 6:6

Years ago, a man who was visiting the United States wanted to make a telephone call. He entered a phone booth but found it to be different from those in his own country. It was beginning to get dark, so he had difficulty finding the number in the directory. He saw a light in the ceiling but didn’t know how to turn it on.

As the man tried again to find the number, a passerby noticed his plight and said, "Sir, if you want to turn the light on, you have to shut the door." To the visitor’s amazement, when he closed the door, the booth was filled with light. He soon located the number and completed the call.

In a similar way, when we draw aside to a quiet place to pray (Matthew 6:6), we must "shut the door" to block out our busy world. As we open our hearts to the Father, we receive the light of His wisdom. Our Lord often went to be alone with His heavenly Father for strength and guidance. Sometimes it was after a busy day of preaching and healing (Luke 5:12-16). At other times, it was before making a major decision (Luke 6:12-13). We can have the confidence that "if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14). But we must remember that to "turn the light on", we must first "shut the door" by getting alone with God. – Richard W. De Haan

Oh, help me, to take the time

To set all else aside,

That in the secret place of prayer

I may with You abide. – Anon.

READ: Matthew 6:5-13

One secret of effective prayer is prayer in secret.

The Bible in one year:

• 2 Chronicles 17-18

• John 13:1-20