02/11/2020
Are you in the midst of spiritual study, prayer, and contemplation with your spouse, your family, or a small group of friends? Perhaps you are taking a break at your place of work to quickly read a few verses of scripture, or this devotional message, while the daily grind goes on around you. Every moment that we find to spend with God is precious, and to be cherished, but none more so than when we are completely alone with Him..
“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 6:6 ESV
When we are alone with the Lord in prayer, studying the scripture, and seeking God’s will, then our Father will share Himself in a way that He will do in no other place, or manner... it is intimate; He has our full attention, and we are completely His. In such quiet places, and secret moments, there are no distractions, and we can fully understand what it means for Jesus, and our Father, to abide in us, and we in them.
“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:3-4 ESV
When we give openly it is much like praying on a street corner; who are we obeying in such an act? Who are we honoring as we serve the poor, or those who are lacking in some way? Are we doing God’s bidding as we give, or giving so that others might honor us? There is a time and place for corporate, or group, prayer, and the same is true when it comes to our giving, and fasting.
Several years ago I selected a charity that provides housing for homeless families as a means to teach my children and grandchildren the importance of giving. I chose a family focused charity as a way of reaching out to them. Each year this organization has a family friendly fundraising event in a local park that has music, food, and activities for the entire family, but the highlight is a hike through the park for the purpose of raising funds. I make a big deal out of our participation so that my family can see the importance I place in helping our neighbors. We gather with all the kids, the dogs, and our blankets and chairs for a time of togetherness, and giving. This is not a secret way to give... but it teaches giving. At some point during our outing we all gather together and take a commemorative photograph as a remembrance... there we all are with our event T-shirts on, holding young children, and with dogs at our feet... my family. We keep these pictures and remember helping others each time we look back on them. This is not private, and although we honor God by our giving, the primary goal is to learn about giving, and establish our family’s tradition of helping our neighbors in need. Yes, there is certainly a time for open prayer and giving.
“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."”
Matthew 18:19-20 ESV
We have just read a story about my family’s journey into giving, and a scripture that speaks of the importance, and power, of joint prayer. This is how we give, pray, and worship together as a group, but to build an intimate, and personal, relationship with God, and Jesus Christ requires time alone with them. The secret places, and ways, in which we meet with our Heavenly Father, and Savior, are more than just important... they are essential, and we are rewarded for our private acts of giving, prayer, and fasting. Read these three scriptures once more...
“"Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”
Matthew 6:2 ESV
“"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.”
Matthew 6:5 ESV
“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:17-18 ESV
We see here that we receive an earthly reward for doing these things in the presence of other men, but we will receive a heavenly reward by doing them secretly for God’s glory alone. What marriage survives without intimacy? What friendship blossoms, and produces fruit, without private moments spent sharing deeply personal feelings? It is the same as we worship, and seek God.
So carve out time during your day when you can have private time with God, and walk alone with Jesus. By finding a quiet place where you can be together, and where you can ask your secret questions of faith, openly reveal your deepest heartaches and personal weaknesses, speak softly of your love, and delve into the details of God’s will for you, your relationship will step across the divine boundary that separates heaven and earth, and your reward will be amassed in heavenly storehouses. In this way we become the children of God, and the heirs and joints heirs of Jesus.
Find your secret place... find your quiet time. Meet God there.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for wanting to be alone with me, and to walk with me in the cool of the evening, or the quiet time of early dawn. Thank you for the intimate conversations, and for hearing my darkest confessions, and prayers that are so private that without you they would remain bottled up inside me, where they would eat away at me. Help me Holy Father to love you, and my neighbor, and to do so secretly for your glory alone. Thank you Jesus for allowing me to see you sweating blood in the Garden of Gethsemane as your disciples slept, and you prayed, and thank you for the silhouettes of you, high on the hilltop as you spoke privately with your Father each day. Your intimacy in such moments have transformed me, my faith, and my worship. Holy, Holy, Holy, is our Father who hears our secret prayers, and whispers into our ears. Great is He who seeks us out in our private places, and sits with us there. Even as Jesus dined with sinners, so our Father opens His Table to us... We praise you with all we are; we worship you for your mercy and grace Lord. We lift you up, and honor you in your glory that knows no bounds. hear our secret prayers, witness our unheralded gifts, and receive our private fasting, and worship as we speak boldly... “This is He who is our God, who was, and is, and is forevermore!”
Rich Forbes