That secret place... Prayer is the one unavoidable act that one practices--that is a testament to one's belief in God Almighty. In general as children we learned that prayer was a way for us to ask God for our most basic desires. Such as praying over our food, thanking God for mommy and daddy, and asking for that new bike. However, as we grow in our walk of faith, we learn to become less basic and more specific in our request. Moreover, the concept of prayer is an interesting phenomenon because it provides us with an outlet to consult God and make manifest our inner most desires. For the seasoned believer, prayer becomes less focused on one's own satisfaction. But more focused on showing total reverence and building an unbreakable bond with God. Prayer indeed allows us to be reverently willing (To show awe, respect and often love; acting or ready to act gladly; eagerly compliant: "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" -Matt 26:41) towards God for providing us with (To furnish; supply. To supply with subsistence) and giving (blessing) us our ample desires. And through its outcome we are able to be living witnesses of the effect (power) it has on our lives!
Establishing a bond (a uniting force or tie, a link; A duty, promise, or other obligation by which one is bound; a fellowship) through prayer is indeed a wonderful friendship to have with the Almighty! The latter statement reminds me of the old time gospel hit "What a friend we have in Jesus!'" Through prayer, Jesus (GPBUH) displayed the love, respect and unbreakable link he built with God, that I speak of above, for he sought God for his every need and want. Moreover, Jesus (GPBUH) shows us how to perfectly establish a wonderful friendship with the Father by how he taught us to pray. He not only prayed out in the open but he often prayed and met God in that secret place. Prayer for Christ was more about "coming into perfect fellowship and oneness with God," than it was about anything else he did. And that's how it should be for us. We must constantly strive to seek God's face for our inner most needs and desires. For the faith walk lies in one's heart and not on the surface for man to say "Job well done my servant" but for God to say "Job well done my servant!'" -Glory be to God!
Scriptural & Literary Notes:
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. -2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV
The LORD has heard my supplication; The LORD will receive my prayer. -Psalm 6:9 NKJV
Hear a just cause, O LORD, Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. -Psalm 17:1 NKJV
When You said, “Seek My face,”My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
-Psalm 27:8 NKJV
[Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God ] He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High. Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. -Psalm 91:1 NKJV
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. -Matt 6:6, 7:8 NKJV
[The Model Prayer ] Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” -Luke 11:1 NKJV
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." -John 15:5-7
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
-James 4:10 NKJV
And seek assistance through patience and prayer, and most surely it is a hard thing except for the humble ones, Who know that they shall meet their Lord and that they shall return to Him. O children of Israel! call to mind My favor which I bestowed on you and that I made you excel the nations (Holy Qur'an 2:45-47). The life of this world is made to seem fair to those who disbelieve, and they mock those who believe, and those who guard (against evil) shall be above them on the day of resurrection; and Allah gives means of subsistence to whom he pleases without measure. -Holy Qur'an 2:212
And that you should keep up prayer and be careful of (your duty to) Him; and He it is to Whom you shall be gathered. -Holy Qur'an 6:72
Allah amplifies and straightens the means of subsistence for whom He pleases; and they rejoice in this world's life, and this world's life is nothing compared with the hereafter but a temporary enjoyment. -Holy Qur'an 13:26
Surely I am Allah, there is no god but I, therefore serve Me and keep up prayer for My remembrance: -Holy Qur'an 20:14
Successful indeed are the believers, Who are humble in their prayers, And who keep aloof from what is vain, And who are givers of poor-rate, -Holy Qur'an 23:1-4
Say: Surely my Lord amplifies the means of subsistence for whom He pleases and straightens (for whom He pleases), but most men do not know. Say: Surely my Lord amplifies the means of subsistence for whom He pleases of His servants and straightens (them) for whom (He pleases), and whatever thing you spend, He exceeds It in reward, and He is the best of Sustainers. -Holy Qur'an 34:36,39
(As for) those who fear their Lord in secret, they shall surely have forgiveness and a great reward. -Holy Qur'an 67:12
The primary thought in the area of religion is— keep your eyes on God, not on people. Your motivation should not be the desire to be known as a praying person. Find an inner room in which to pray where no one even knows you are praying, shut the door, and talk to God in secret. Have no motivation other than to know your Father in heaven. It is impossible to carry on your life as a disciple without definite times of secret prayer.
Prayer is not simply getting things from God— that is only the most elementary kind of prayer. Prayer is coming into perfect fellowship and oneness with God.
We pray religious nonsense without even involving our will, and then we say that God did not answer— but in reality we have never asked for anything. Jesus said, “. . . you will ask what you desire. . .” -Excerpt(s) from My Utmost For Highest (Online) Sept 16th, 2010 by Oswald Chambers
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