When You Pray

Posted on 11/15/2015 by goodnewsfromadistantland — 1 Comment

Yahushua Messiah [Jesus Christ] taught them, saying, …

“When you pray,

enter into your closet . . .

and when you have shut your door,

pray to your Father who is in secret. . .

and your Father who sees in secret

shall reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:6)

When we pray in our prayer closet, there is no pretending. Our secert prayer time is when we lay down all pretenses, and come before our Creator. It is the time when we take a genuine look at who we are, and who the eternal God is.

In the secret place of our prayer closet, we surely cannot hide from God, and — strange as it may sound, we should not hide from ourselves! Our secret prayer time is the place to be completely honest and open. It is the time to acknowledge the eternal God’s greatness, and our abundant need for Him.

“Blessed are they who attain to
genuine, unreserved communication with God.“
– Francois Fenelon

In our secret prayer time, we come, praying to the Father in the name of His only begotten Son, Yahushua Messiah [the Hebrew name for Jesus Christ]. We pray to the Father, in His Son’s name, because Yahushua Messiah is our advocate, our defender, our supporter — our Saviour (1John 2:1; 2Timothy 1:8-10)!

Without Messiah, we are undone! We come to the Father based on Messiah’s merit — trusting in His righteousness and His mercy to revive us, cleanse us, and deliver us (Psalms 143:1-2,9-12):

Quicken [revive] me, O Yahuwah [the LORD], for Your name’s sake: for Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. And of Your mercy cut off my enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am Your servant. (Psalms 143:11-12; see also Titus 3:4-7)

In the quiet, hiddenness of our prayer closet — if we are patient, honest, and willing — then we begin to know and better understand our heavenly Father. Father desires to be near us because He has called us into fellowship with Him (John 17:21; 1Corinthians 1:9).

If we are earnest and persistent, if we can quiet ourselves, seeking the quietness of waiting on Father’s direction, then the Holy Spirit can direct our prayers, drawing us into genuine intercession, especially if we have been fasting.

Alone with God, praying in secret from the depths of our heart, often during the early hours before dawn, will draw us into Spirit-led intercession, sometimes with tears and groanings (Romans 8:26; Jude 1:20).

“The Secret of Praying is – Praying in Secret!“
– Leonard Ravenhill

Our secret, humble prayer time is when Father can reach us, touch us, and break the crusty nature of prideful, ambitious ‘SELF.’ In our hidden prayer time, we confess our inadequate abilities, our selfish motives — our sins. Time in secret prayer is the time for admiting our failures and seeking Father’s mercy to forgive us and cleanse us from all that is dishonourable:

If anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the Master of the house, ready for every good work. (2Timothy 2:21)

We need a clean heart and a right spirit …

if we desire to honour and glorify our Saviour in all we do,
if we desire to teach transgressors His ways,
if we desire to be a blessing to those around us!

We come to the eternal, heavenly Father for cleansing, and to be transformed more and more into an honourable vessel ready for the work He sets before us.

A clean heart before Yahuwah gives us confidence of His intervention on our behalf and on behalf of our loved ones, as we plead for His mercy to be manifest to them!

“God loves importunate prayer [earnest, pleading prayer] so much,
that He will not give us much blessing without it.”
– Adoniram Judson

A clean heart before Yahuwah makes us confident to trust His mercy and guidance (2Chronicles 16:9; Psalms 32:10; 23:3; Proverbs 3:5-6).

A clean heart before Yahuwah restores our yearning for fulfilling Father’s desires for us.

Our prayer time becomes a time of renewal in trusting Father’s power to carry us and transform us:

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. (James 4:8)

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10; see also Ps 55:22).

Our heart is once again filled with expectation of Father’s lovingkindness and mercy and comfort (Ephesians 3:20; John 14:16-18)!

Father, I ask You, create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Help me to draw near to You. Bring me into Your presence. Help me to humble myself and receive Your direction and correction. Help me conform to the image of Your Son. Draw me into secret prayer more often. May I always seek Your presence first, before the pressures and business of the day. In the precious name of Yahushua Messiah, I pray. Amen.

“If you desire to pray effectively, you must pray a great deal!“
– Charles Finney

“To be much FOR God, you must be much WITH God.”
– Leonard Ravenhill

Remember:

… he that comes to God must believe that He is [He exists!],
God is a rewarder of them that diligently SEEK Him! (Hebrews 11:6b)
Beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit… (Jude 1:20)

Thank You Father, for Your many promises to be with me and to hear me. Thank You for Your lovingkindness and great mercy! Help me Father, to seek You, to be open before You, and to confess and forsake whatever grieves You. Help me to enter my prayer closet regularly, and be willing to receive the whispers of Your correction and guidance. Help me to walk with You in true humility. Help me to be courageous, speaking on Your behalf, and serving You with joy and gladness. In the name of Your Son, Yahushua Messiah, I pray. Amen.

—

Related Articles: