"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”(Matthew 6:6).
There has been much discussion over the centuries as to where, exactly, is this room. Should we be creating a distinct place where we pray? Dedicate the use of one room in our houses where only prayer takes place? Or a closet as some translations make of that word? As a child I attended a Church Camp for many years, one in which they sent us out into a vast field in the afternoon where we were to take our Bibles, find a solitary place, and pray. I found a tree, a big valley oak, that I liked to sit under, and lean against the trunk. When someone took that spot before I could get there, I found them to be quite unjust for taking my place, so I’d walk around and around that tree until they would be annoyed enough to get up and leave. We were forbidden to talk so the person couldn’t say anything to me; I didn’t even smile, I just took my place. Does an actual physical place that we use every day make a difference? No. It may make the flesh feel more comfortable because it likes ritual and routine, but for the benefit of the prayer? There is none. The Samaritan woman asked Jesus to tell her where to find the best place to pray.
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Marty
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