Getting Alone with Jesus

[Ramez5]

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matt 6:1 and 5
I always notice verses about this topic because it’s so hard for me to not talk about whatever is in my life. I am not a ‘secret’ person—sigh.. sometimes I wish I was. I do believe that it’s partly because I have always felt the Lord wanted me to be ‘transparent’.. or real.. so that others could be encouraged.

That’s great if things are going well for me ‘on the inside’.. and rather embarrassing if things are not going well as it’s usually pretty obvious. *blush* I’m one of those people whose sins ‘go before’. I have kids like that too haha. I never had to wonder what sort of trouble they were into.. cause they couldn’t hide it to save their lives.

But with that ‘strength’ if such it is.. sigh.. comes a huge and inherent weakness.. the danger of boasting. My heart is so deceitful.. that I never feel safe about this one area. So I do feel the Lord was reminding me here to be so so so careful! It would grieve me to ever think I was doing that.


The commentaries talk about this verse and the one we just read about letting our light shine.. and since those two were confusing me.. I dug a little deeper. What they said is that the key here is hypocrisy—what is our motive?

If we are truly doing our good deeds for Him.. then yes.. some of that will show.. and brings glory to the Lord. But we should never do anything at all 'good' for the sake of being seen.

On the other hand, the Lord I think is still warning me to be careful—that some things should be in secret. Giving is a great thing to do as privately as possible--and so fun by the way. We once gave something 'big' as a family to another family at Christmas and kept the secret for years. The kids were absolutely in heaven. We have never enjoyed a Christmas like that one. The joys of giving in secret are hard to describe.

At any rate, the idea of having a secret place to pray.. and study.. enchants me. I do so wish I had a roof-top garden!

Here’s what Barnes says about this passage..

The meaning of the Saviour is, that there should be some place where we may be in secret – where we may be alone with God.

There should be some “place” to which we may resort where no ear will hear us but “His” ear, and no eye can see us but His eye.

Unless there is such a place, secret prayer will not be long or strictly maintained. It is often said that we have no such place, and can secure none. We are away from home; we are traveling; we are among strangers; we are in stages and steamboats, and how can we find such places of retirement? I answer, the desire to pray, and the love of prayer, will create such places in abundance.

The Saviour had all the difficulties which we can have, but yet he lived in the practice of secret prayer. To be alone, he rose up “a great while before day,” and went into a solitary place and prayed, Mark 1:35. With him a grove, a mountain, a garden, furnished such a place, and, though a traveler, and among strangers, and without a house, he lived in the habit of secret prayer.

What excuse can they have for not praying who have a home, and who spend the precious hours of the morning in sleep, and who will practice no self-denial that they may be alone with God?

Christian! thy Saviour would have broken in upon these hours, and would have trod his solitary way to the mountain or the grove that he might pray. He did do it. He did it to pray for thee, too indolent and too unconcerned about thy own salvation and that of the world to practice the least self-denial in order to commune with God! How can religion live thus? How can such a soul be saved?

Such a good reminder to make make that time and place in our busy days for more time with Him. Our fruitfulness comes from Him.. so it’s important! May we be alone with God often.. so we can love him more and be ever more like him day by day.
Dear Lord, Help us make a secret place and time in our hearts, homes, and lives to love you, learn from you and sit at your feet. May we learn to delight in You.. and give you our whole heart to you. May we share your love with all around us. Amen.

[Mary Naeem]

Thanks Ramez

[walaa farouk]

Thanks Ramez