30 Days On The Mount

prayer to himself. I thank you God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else.” (Lk 18:11)

HIDDEN PRAYER

9 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. Jesus is referring here to the private prayer life of his followers in contrast to the corporate prayer of the church. This is something he did often: “One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone.” (Lk 9:18) He does not put a time requirement on his instruction to pray knowing that such external demands will cause it to become a mechanical duty rather than a delight. The word for prayer is prosuche, used exclusively for both worship and petitioning God. Hidden prayer is filled with the incense of adoration, thanksgiving and love as well as requests. He does not demand that we pray in a specific place. The room is a tameion, ‘ store-house, a s eparate apartment, one’s private ch amber, closet, or “den” where he can withdraw from the world. ’ xiv One meaning is ‘treasure - house’ where we can discover the hidden riches of God’s purpose and pathway for our life. Your ‘room’ may be on top of a hill or a walk alone on the beach or in the forest as well as a private quarter. The Father himself is ‘hidden’ from the view of th e world where so much busy activity takes place; he is accessed wherever we steal away to a ‘ secret place’ with him.

Jesus does not demand beautiful, professional prayers. In using the term Father, he shows us that our hearts must be

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