Start your day with quick daily devotions: February 2, 2021

Scripture reading - Matthew 6: 5-8

"When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is invisible." - Matthew 6: 6

Do you ever go to your garage, close the door and pray? I'm not averse to praying in my garage, but it's usually not the first place that comes to mind when I think of a place to pray.

Yet this is basically what Jesus tells his followers to do here. The word that Jesus uses to indicate the place to pray literally means "closet". In Jesus' day warehouses were out-of-the-way spaces that were used primarily for storing tools and supplies, including food, and these rooms usually had a door that could be closed.

Jesus' command makes prayer seem like a confidential and private matter. Could this be his point?

In this passage Jesus teaches his listeners about prayer, fasting and tithing. These were all vital aspects of the people's religious life, but some of the people's leaders tended to use these activities as a way to show how religious and devoted they were.

Here Jesus warns against flashy prayer. Sincere and honest prayer, he is saying, focuses only on God. If you are satisfied with simply impressing others, that will be your only reward. But if you want God to hear your prayers, just talk to him.

If your garage isn't the best place for prayer, find another place where you can be alone with God and focus on communicating with him. "Then your Father, who sees what is being done in secret, will reward you."

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us find the right place to talk to you and to hear your voice. Amen.