SEPTEMBER 24, Matthew 6:6

“Where’s Tony?” thought Dad as he walked into Tony’s room to tell him it was time for bed. As he turned to leave, he heard a muffled voice coming from behind the closed door of the clothes closet. Dad heard, “Amen,” and a minute later, Tony came out of his closet.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt you, Tony,” said Dad, “but I must admit I’m curious. Why were you praying in your closet?”

“Well, I always prayed beside my bed,” answered Tony, “but our Junior Worship lesson was about prayer, and my teacher quoted a verse that says to go into your closet and shut the door when you pray. So tonight I prayed in the closet.”

Dad nodded and chuckled. “I think the closet in that verse means something a little different from our clothes closets,” he said. “In fact, most Bible scholars agree that the word translated as ‘closet’ in that verse means a room that is private and quiet.” “Really?” asked Tony. “Oh, good! Then I can just pray beside my bed again, can’t I? It was stuffy in that closet!”

Dad smiled. “I think the main thing Jesus is teaching us is that we should not be praying to show off in front of other people,” he said. “That’s why it’s good to get away by ourselves-like in a separate room-and shut the door.” Dad paused. “Of course, we can pray anytime, anywhere. When we go into the privacy of our own hearts and minds and shut the door...”

“But, Dad,” interrupted Tony, “how could I shut a door in my heart and mind?” “One way is to close your eyes when you pray,” explained Dad, “but even if you’re doing something where you can’t close your eyes, you can still control your mind and shut out thoughts about other things.”

Tony nodded. “It’s like having a prayer room inside my mind then,” he said. “I’m not always home when I need to pray, so this is better! It’s like I have my prayer room with me all the time, and I can pray anywhere.”

“Right!” agreed Dad. “It’s great to be able to pray at home, at school, when you’re playing or anywhere at all. But be sure to also have a quiet time with God each day. Like I said, it’s good to have a special time and place for prayer, too.”

Thought: Do I have a quiet time alone with God each day? I can talk to Him anytime, anywhere.

Prayer: Teach me Heavenly Father to talk with You in a quiet place, by myself. Help me not to be distracted when I pray. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.