Prayer Made Simple

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1

When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites
who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues
where everyone can see them.
I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.
Matthew 6:5

Putting prayer on display is one of the most obvious and obnoxious acts of hypocrisy we can engage in. If you have ever done so, determine from this moment on never again to make prayer a public performance. This intimate act of worship must never be abused. How often I hear (and occasionally participate in!) long, wordy, self-serving acts of intercession where prayer becomes the vehicle for transporting loads of theological jargon and eloquent, pious phrases uttered to impress. Let’s stop it!

What should we do instead? Jesus tells us.

First: Find a private place to be alone. He is talking about private devotions here, not public prayers. Get away. “Shut your door.” Deliberately do not let it be known that you’re meeting alone with God. You have no quiet place? How about your car? When our busy family was growing up, my mother preferred the bathroom. The door even has a lock. Go in. Be quiet. Pour out your soul.

Second: Pray to your heavenly Father in secret. I love the words the psalmist wrote on prayer:

When Thou didst say, “Seek My face,” my heart said to Thee, “Thy face, O LORD, I shall seek.” (Psalm 27:8 KJV)

In the past several years, I have begun to realize the value of this. As a result of time invested in the secret place we gain an invincible sense of God’s direction and the reassurance of His hand on our lives, along with an increased sensitivity regarding the iniquity in our own lives. Being alone with God is not complicated, but it is tough to maintain. Nevertheless, we need secrecy, especially in this hyperactive, noisy, busy world of ours.

Third: Keep it simple. God doesn’t pay closer attention because we use more verbiage, nor does it take a continuous stream of repetitious words, like some mysterious mantra, to make Him sit up and take notice. Remember it’s the Lord’s face you seek.