by Darla Noble
But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
When I was in sixth grade I had the opportunity to meet the famous children’s author, Judy Blume. Ms. Blume wasn’t famous at that point in time. Her book, “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret” had only been out less than three years. It hadn’t yet reached the status of best-seller stardom.
If you are familiar with the book you know that sixth-grader, Margaret has some pretty frank conversations with God. These aren’t prayers she would have prayed at the dinner table, mind you. They were personal, deeply personal.
That’s what Jesus is talking about in today’s verse. He wants us to know that God wants us to get deeply personal with Him. He wants us to shut the rest of the world out, whether it be in the closet, our car, or any other place we can be alone, and talk to Him; pouring our hearts out to Him in complete honesty and transparency. Hey, He knows it’s there anyway, so there’s no need to hold back. He just wants and needs to hear us say it.
So, don’t be afraid to speak your heart and mind to God; knowing He is listening attentively and that He will answer you. Always.
Pray
God, let me be unafraid to speak my whole heart and mind to You and keep my heart and mind open to hearing back from You. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.