Secret Prayer

There is a beauty in the ways of God that call us to experience more than just the rules. Wonder is found in the quest to experience God and not settle in for being more moral, saved or chosen. It is not that being moral, saved or chosen by God are bad things, they are not. They are fruit we enjoy as we undergo a transformation. As God gets deeper inside of us, we are not just changed on the outside or in our thought life. Our whole being is changed.

We live with both a call to hide and not to be hidden. Matthew calls us to be a candle and a city seen and known (Matthew 5:14-15). And then in a few verses, Matthew calls us to practice three things in hiddenness. Giving to the poor, prayer and fasting are three areas that light hides so that it may be light. Scriptures used in this blog are posted at the end.

Jesus shows us who God is and how He works. In Jesus demonstrating God to us, we see that Jesus is the light of the world and that “all the treasure and wisdom and knowledge” are hidden in His. The life of Jesus and our lives are to include both a releveling and hidden side. Both are necessary for growth and fruitfulness. Both are necessary for a mature life in God.

The visible seed becomes hidden so that it might grow and bear visible fruit. The growing plant that you see draws strength and resources from what you cannot see. If we are the growing seen plant, what part of us need to be rooted, out of sight, providing what we need to be healthy and fruitful?

Let’s find out!

Join me, if you want, in hidden illumination. Let’s call it “Secret Prayer.” We might call it “Secret GPF” for secret giving, prayer, and fasting, but let's start with secret prayer and see if we can grow into secret gpf.

Adventure 1

1.      Find a place to hide.

2.      Read the following passages of Scripture

a.      Matthew 6:1-15

b.      John 15:5-8

3.      Listen to the Holy Spirit for a while to see if God wants to share any thoughts with you.

4.      Prayer the Lord’s Prayer a few times slowly. What word or phrase seems to be emphasized by the Holy Spirit as you pray.

5.      End with a blessing.

a.      Just as the phrase “for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Was added to the Lord’s prayer, add your own blessing. Speak will of God and add an “amen.” Amen is a yep, that is true, affirmation.

b.      Here is an example or two you can you to help you bless the Lord.

                                                    i.     May the light hidden to the world shine upon my city. May those lost in the dark see hope from what was always there yet hidden from them. Amen.

                                                   ii.     May Your Kingdome come and your will be done in the hidden places of my soul. May the light of God transform my darkness with His wonder and beauty. Amen.

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

John 15:5-8 NASB

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16 NASB

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. "So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 

"When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. "So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 

"Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 'Give us this day our daily bread. 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]' "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. 

"Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Matthew 6:1-18 NASB

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Hope you reconnect again as we journey further on in Secret Prayer.