Rewarded By The Father
“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.”
What is your relationship with God the Father? Jesus is the one that saves us, and the Spirit is the one that empowers us, but what about the Father? While we recognize the role of God as Heavenly Father, I am not sure that we always understand how this name matters to us. I have found that the missing link for many believers is that they have not experienced the love of the Father.
God is one, and nothing the Father proclaims stands against the Spirit or the Son. Even so, Jesus talks at length about the important work the Father does in our lives. If we do not look to the Father for connection, we are short-circuiting our faith.
The foundation of the secret place is found in Matthew 6:6 where Jesus teaches us to go into our room and pray to the Father. Likewise, in Matthew 6:9, he teaches us to pray, “Our Father in heaven.” It is a simple detail with a profound impact.
Our prayers can become very self-focused. I find this to be true, especially when I am struggling with trials or temptations. It is easy to come to prayer asking God for help without first opening up to him and listening to his heart.
The secret place is where we encounter God and build a relationship with the Father. It is set apart to build us up in the Lord, but it is not meant to be the only place we pray. There is nothing more holy about a prayer lifted in a chapel versus walking through the grocery store. God hears all of our prayers and requests no matter where we are. God heard Jonah's prayer in the belly of a fish, so he can hear you praying on your commute to work.
When Jesus talks about praying in secret, the message seems to be simple: let your prayers be God-focused and not people-focused. He was reflecting on the religiosity and showmanship of wealthy men who would lift extravagant and loud prayers to show their righteousness. I think there is a deeper truth in what Jesus is teaching us. The reward that comes from knowing the Father in a hidden place strengthens our faith more than the benefits of being seen and affirmed by others. Recognize today that God is seeking you out. He is desiring to know you, and the more you seek him to know him, the more you will grow in freedom, maturity, and holiness.
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Abiding happens daily in his presence. Abiding Daily is a simple and practical reminder to stay connected to the vine. Each prompt is inspired by the scriptures and designed to point you toward prayer and encounter. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get the Daily Invitation sent to you every day click this link or text “Daily” to +1 (779) 237-3914.
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