DAILY DIVINE WORD
Saturday, 15th August 2026
THE SECRECY OF PRAYER
Text: Matthew 6:5–6
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Previously in this series on prayer, we discussed the essence of prayer, and it was concluded that prayer was initiated by God, and it's guided by His will.
The next question to ask is how to pray, and this could be very broad because under it we should be looking at where we can pray, when to pray, the modality of prayer, and so on.
Teachings on prayer in this time and age are all about gymnastics, how much shout you can make, how sweaty you can be, and how much you can show people that you pray. Sometimes, I wonder if it was the same teaching Jesus had about prayer.
Prayer is about communion with God, and so it's personal and thereby a secret affair. Even when gathering together as a church, praying together with a partner, it's about secrecy.
The secrecy of prayer is sacred and God's will for communicating with His children.
Jesus was addressing this same issue in the text for today, and it seems like what we are experiencing today—the teachers of the law then were also known for grandstanding while praying.
They pray wanting men to see them and praise them. They pray so loudly and make it even on the street. In Jesus' words, this is hypocrisy!
Jesus emphasised the secrecy of prayer, and it was a requirement for reward when you pray.
When we pray, we're to pray in secret, shutting the doors behind us and pray because the Father is actually in the secret and He rewards openly.
What Does It Mean to Pray in Secret?
How can we pray, shutting the door behind us, when the Scripture says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17:
"Pray without ceasing."
Are we going to be indoors without ceasing too?
No.
Shutting the door behind you means maintaining a close communion with God; in other words, you can be at work, shutting the doors (distraction) and pray in the deepest part of your heart; you can be on the bus doing the same; you can be on the street and yet shutting the door behind you and praying.
It's about you and God.
Also, God intended that you maintain the secrecy of prayer because when it's just you and Him, you can be open to reveal all the weaknesses that you can't share with anyone; you can be humble and submit to His will; He can communicate much with you since it's just Him and you, and He can work on your life personally without interference.
Beloved, shun New Age teachings.
This is what Jesus taught about prayer: the secrecy of prayer is sacred, and when you pray to God in secret, He hears.
No one needs to know that you're praying; you don't have to show people that you do that.
Maintain it as a communion with God, and your Father who is in secret will reward you openly.
Reflection
When you pray, what is the motive behind it: God or self?
Related Readings
Kindly share this devotional and drop a comment if it has blessed you.
0 Comments