Lent

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.

(Matthew 6:6 NIV)

My college roommate was required to take a speech class as part of her major. I remember the morning of her first speech. She was crying, got sick to her stomach and spent most of her time trying to decide if going to class was worth it. She nearly fainted before heading out the door to face the dreaded task.

For me, class presentations provoked some anxiety, but my nerves would eventually fall in line. I had friends who lived for such attention—a chance to entertain. Any way you slice it, having an audience evokes some kind of behavioral response. Our focus and motivation shift. It’s human nature, really. The knowledge that eyes are watching and ears are listening, pressures us and influences our behavior.

Some seek praise. Some seek shock and awe. Most of us fall somewhere in between—perhaps hoping to say just enough to stay off of others’ radar and avoid unwanted attention. No matter what, our focus is externalized.

Perhaps, this is why Jesus tells us to pray in our closets or a private room. Privacy allows our ego to rest. Now internal, our motivation allows us to communicate our vulnerabilities, needs, hopes and concerns freely. In private we are able to share in a very real way.

Jesus says this type of prayer will be rewarded. I do not think this means that all our requests are granted. After all, Jesus is not a genie. Rather, the reward is connection, intimacy and guidance from the one who is able to answer when the space is quiet enough for us to hear.

Prayer

As we spend time alone with You during this season of Lent, I ask… Lord, hear our prayers. 

Today’s devotional was written and read by Edha Brown.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.