08/23/2025
Do you have a secret garden? You know, a secret place that you retreat to when you need to do some serious thinking? How about a quiet place where you can go to be alone with God? Is it a place that you can get to quickly and often? Is it away from all the hustle bustle and the noise of the world around you? Do you begin all your days there? Perhaps it is a closet, a quiet room you go to in the wee hours of morning, or maybe a secret garden that smells of fresh-turned earth and the scent of morning glories. Where is your refuge from the world where you can sit with God?
One of the most important lessons that Jesus taught His disciples was how to pray. They watched Him slip away to quiet places and pray, and they noticed that He often prayed all night long, but they wanted more... they wanted to know the secret of prayer. Little did they know that it actually involved real secrecy and more than that... succinctness. Listen as Jesus tells them how to pray before leading into what we now call "The Lord's Prayer."
“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. "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Matthew 6:6-8 ESV
Prayer is not a show, a speech, or a lecture... it is a quiet conversation between oneself and God. Sometimes it is just sitting quietly and wondering about Him without saying a word.
Have you ever been in a situation where someone rushed up to you and in a frantic voice began telling you a long, drawn-out story about something terrible that was happening? Your first reaction is most likely to stop them by saying... “just tell me what is wrong!!” The difference between us and God is that He already knows what is wrong, so all the verbiage other than the word "Help!" are so much filler. Isn’t this what Jesus was conveying to His disciples when He told them “Do not heap up empty phrases.”? Isn’t this one word of prayer what someone who is drowning shouts when they come up gasping for air?
When we say "My Father" we have His undivided attention, we don't need to cajole or beg Him to listen to us, He hears us already. All the surrounding dialog pertaining to what we need or desire is simply fluff. We are all guilty of this aren't we? Somehow we feel that if we go straightway to the point that we are shortchanging God in some way, or that He won’t understand what we need. It is as if we expect Him to listen to a long drawn-out explanation of what He already knows ion order to convince Him.
One afternoon, my wife and I were on the interstate with my brother-in-law and his wife, and on the other side of the concrete barrier was a mother with a new baby standing in front of her car on the narrow shoulder of the fast lane. Cars were zooming by them at breakneck speed and the danger was obvious. My brother-in-law took the very next off ramp so that we could turn around and help, and as he did I dialed 911. When the attendant answered I told her who I was, where we were, what the danger was, and that we needed a patrol car immediately. This is the information God needs from us, and our connection with Him is perfect so there is no need to shout or convince Him to come... He is already there.
How often do we hear a prayer that is equivalent to the Gettysburg Address recited when all that is required of us is a short "Help Us Father!"? It happens all the time and seems to be more prevalent in the one place where prayer should be fully understood... in church.
The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector helps make this point. The Pharisee prays an argument regarding his worthiness of forgiveness, but the tax collector prays a simple and straight forward prayer of contrition, and Jesus says that the tax collector’s prayer was more acceptable...
“The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:11-14 ESV
When we read the Lord's Prayer it is a set of very specific points, so when I read in scripture that Jesus prayed all night I am amazed... can you imagine the conversation? No oration, no chanting, just specific conversation about very real and concise issues. Can you imagine it? And God the Father says things such as "Go to the tomb but don't go in... just say Lazarus come out! Then I want you to"... do you see what I mean? No long, drawn-out flowery explanation, just do this.
I begin each day in prayer, then read, and finally write my morning devotional. My prayers last quite a while, but they are in my quiet place and between God and me alone. I am not redundant, but I have a lot to cover, and in the midst of that litany of issues, God often says “shush”, and speaks to me as well. No one hears our conversation but us, and there is secret healing and deliverance that results which no one need know about except the two of us. Remember the words of Jesus? “Pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
No... Praying isn't about showing off our relationship with the Lord, or awing the congregation with our ability to speak, it is an intimate conversation that is intended to glorify God alone. Sure, there is a place for corporate prayer, and most intercessory prayers with someone are meant to make the conversation a three-way chat, but the bulk of our praying should be done in secret. Is this how we pray, or do we need to alter our prayer life? When we hear scripture that says pray without ceasing, does that prompt us to walk down the street praying nonstop for all to hear, or quietly to God who knows our heart? Does it mean to stretch out our prayers into wordy requests, or to pray constant short prayers all throughout the day; each one hitting the nail right on the head, and interspersed with silence?
The question simply boils down to this... is all our treasure here, or in heaven? Are the rewards of our prayers already realized here on earth, or do they await you in the Kingdom of God? Where do we place your trust? How do we pray appropriately? Let’s think on these things, and then pray “Thank you Lord!”
Prayer:
Father I thank you for the quiet times of conversation we have as I lift up my prayers to you. I thank you Lord for the instruction of Jesus that leads me to a secret place where we can speak privately. Holy Father, let all who read your Word understand when and where to pray, and may they accumulate treasure in heaven through intimate conversation with you. Hallowed be your name Father, and may your kingdom come quickly, but most of all, may your will be done and may I conform to it. Abba, forgive me as I forgive, and lead me away from every temptation. For this I praised be your name; now and forevermore.
Amen
“And he said to them, “When you pray, say:
“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
Luke 11:2-4 ESV
Rich Forbes