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THE MASTER IN PRIVATE PRAYER

Date: 
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Bible Meditation: 
Matthew 6: 45-56

“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place..." – Matthew 6:6a

The phrase ‘The MASTER IN PRIVATE PRAYER’ summarises Jesus’ teaching and practice of Prayer: “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Mt.6:6). This was the Lord Jesus openly instructing His disciples to pray in secret the way He also did. Jesus took time for private devotions to God, usually in solitary places and on the mountains. He often intentionally withdrew from public view for Seasons of Solitude in Private Places.

In addition to preparing for moments of manifestations, before performing many of His miracles, and prior to major events such as His baptism, temptations, calling the twelve apostles, His transfiguration, and the crucifixion – the regular prayer habits of our Lord Jesus Christ, consistently portrayed the Public Power of Private Prayer. His favourite times and locations of prayer reinforce this notion.

Apparently, we don’t have to leave our home or room in order to pray, but sometimes that’s the best way. Praying in a secret place was something the Lord Jesus wanted His disciples to practice. For example, He took them aside after they had been sent and had gone out preaching the Gospel of the kingdom in the cities: "And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida" (Lk.9:10). Mark 6:31 describes the same occasion: "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."

PRAYING IN SOLITUDE was a Prayer Habit of the Lord Jesus. He liked to go to quiet and solitary places to pray. Luke 5:16 describes this as His custom: “So He Himself OFTEN withdrew into the WILDERNESS and PRAYED.” Jesus would get away from everyone to spend time in Privacy with the Father. He often did this in the morning while it was still dark: “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a SOLITARY place; and there HE PRAYED” (Mk.1:35). Praying at night or early in the morning, on a mountaintop or in a solitary place, allowed Jesus to give His full attention and devotion to His Father. He wasn’t going to be distracted by the sights or by the presence of other people. He was fully present to God. This solitude was a regular habit for the Lord!

Occasionally, Jesus modelled praying in solitude for His disciples. Before telling them of His impending death, He spent quality time alone in prayer: “And it happened, as HE WAS ALONE PRAYING, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” (Lk.9:18). Although Jesus prayed in these secluded places, His locations were often accessible to His closest disciples. He would bring them along, as in the Transfiguration and Gethsemane incidents, or have them join Him as in the Luke 9 case. At another instance it was as the disciples saw Him praying alone in a certain place that they asked: “Lord, teach us to pray” (Lk.11:1). The Master consciously modelled privately praying in solitude as part of discipleship training.

In summary: Jesus’ custom was to find a place where He could pray alone, whether it was on the mountain or in a secluded place. He often prayed at night, through the night, or early in the morning. Prayer formed the foundation for His ministry, as He prayed before making major decisions. We do well to follow the Master’s Model in Prayer in terms of privacy of place, quietness and regularity of time, and earnestness or fervency of spirit.

Beloved, times of aloneness with God in prayer and seasons of solitude should form the foundation of our relationship with Him. It’s vain to try to accomplish things for God without praying for His Will and His Strength. Our practices of discernment and search for wisdom must flow out of being with God in prayer. As we faithfully follow the Master in Prayer, we will mature into manifesting the Public Power of Private Prayer.

Adetokunbo O. Ilesanmi (Meditations)

Prayer: 
Lord, help us to faithfully follow the MASTER IN PRIVATE PRAYER, displaying the Public Power of Private Prayer, in Jesus’ name.
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