But when you pray, go into your room, and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 ESV

Regular personal prayer is not an option, a nice idea, or a path for the spiritually mature. In today’s verse, prayer is a vital part of daily life for all God’s children. And this time of prayer is not to simply bless our food or to ask for God to watch over us as we sleep. This prayer is such a part of any normal busy day that Jesus says, “Stop! Get alone with God and talk to Him about everything.” Though there is a place for corporate prayer, the prayer Jesus teaches about here is not something we do in church, or in front of our family. God’s plan and desire is for us to have a personal intimate time spent talking to Him about our doubts, questions, and even complaints about our problems, and a time to give Him praise. As we are working our way through this first week of Lent, there is no better discipline to begin with than with prayer. Without prayer we are like a bow without arrows to shoot at the target or a compass without a needle to point the way. God calls us to personal private prayer, and though it may feel awkward, or maybe even boring at first, the longer we linger and listen, the more we will sense that we aren’t alone. Jesus has gone ahead of us into our prayer room and there He is waiting for us. Will you come and pray to Him in secret? God has also promised that when we pray, that He will listen and then go with us and reward us with the answers as we go out to serve Him today!