SOLITUDE IS PRAYING DILIGENTLY

This week, I am exploring what God says about SOLITUDE. As I enter prayer now, I reflect on God’s instruction: “Be still and know that I am God.” 

Lord, teach me today about getting alone to listen to You. 

I desire to receive Your instruction  

and share it with others in my life. 

Let me consider the words of God from Matthew 6:5-8: 

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 

The first instruction from the Lord about prayer is not to be like the hypocrites—He does not want conversation with Him to be like an actor in a play.  An actor acts to entertain and to receive applause, and if that is why I am praying, then that will be my reward. 

Instead, the Lord guides me to a solitary place where I can be alone to pray to my Heavenly Father.  As I enjoy conversations with close friends, I should place conversations with God as my highest priority and find it easy to talk with Him alone. 

My reward from my Heavenly Father for my obedience to His instruction is the blessing of the Holy Spirit in my heart to guide me, to convict me, and to look after me each day. 

Lord, thank You for helping me know how to pray.   

I desire to make my daily time with You  

a priority in my life. 

I come to the Lord to praise Him, to repent of my sins, to thank Him for blessings, and to ask for the things I need: strength from Him along with His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control. 

Lord, You know what I need before I ask.   

Please bless me today for my obedience  

to You by filling my heart with  

the fruit of the Holy Spirit.   

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.