Prayer: Part IV

Let's recap where we ended yesterday. In Matthew 7: 7-8 we see some critically important words. We also need to heed and embody Matthew 6:6 so that we can receive the promises.

Matthew 6:6 says, "But when you pray, go into your room, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

And then in Matthew 7: 7-8, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened for you."

It is not by coincidence that the order is such. Matthew 6:6; praying in secret, and then            Matthew 7: 7-8; asking, seeking and knocking.

Matthew is recording these principles, that our prayers to the Lord will be effective.

Going to the Father in secret is about reverence. It is about getting alone with God the Father. It is about aligning yourself, vertically, in an undisturbed environment. Full respect for the relationship; just you and God.

Then we ask. We seek. We knock. Asking here is the first step after we go to our secret place.

Seeking is about heart. What is on your heart? What should we do when we bow before the Lord, as a measure and practice of humility. This is why you should be on your knees. It implies respect. The posture represents humility. And it represents submission. We as children of God have far less control than we can ever imagine, ever fathom, ever understand. This is a problem for all Christians, but especially challenging for men. We are called to be the Leaders of our household. We are also called to develop our vertical relationship, so that we might find favor and blessings in our prayer life.

Think of knocking as the second door. A room implies that there is a door that we can close behind us. It can be a room in our house, the door of our car, the privacy of the garage; wherever a door might be. But, we also need to use imagery. There is so much capacity in the brain and mind that goes untapped; unused, underdeveloped. So, can and would that be another important compartmentalization that we can ask for? Can we find and develop a specific compartment of the brain designed specifically; and only, for our vertical relationship with the Holy Trinity? God, the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit? What I am trying to present is an idea of having a room reserved, both on earth and in the unseen, by imagery and imagination, that creates in the mind; a reserved tunnel that is a Holy place; a tunnel that begins with a door closed behind us, a door that is opened where we have found and knocked, that it might be open. That tunnel is yours and yours alone; and it begins with you--a door closed behind--and ends with God. A vertical tunnel reserved only for you!

Spend time in reflection today. Real reflection. Imagery and Imagination. Build a tunnel; one reserved only for you for your own vertical relationship, private to you, and between only "you and God."

What does your "Tunnel" look like?

I challenge you to build yours today. Internalize that special place. It is reserved only for you. Use it daily.

Develop. Compartmentalize. Repeat.