"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to pray [publicly] standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets so that they may be seen by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the 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 pray, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." - Matthew 6:5-8

Why pray in secret? 

Why is it important to pray in secret?  Why is Jesus careful to add that when we pray we should seek a secluded place and shut the door behind us?

As I thought about that, I thought of the children's book called, The Secret Garden by, Frances Hodgson Burnett. The story is about two children who are transformed from being weak, sickly, and friendless to physically and emotionally healthy children in the garden, and I thought perhaps F.H. Burnett might be onto something here. Just like the children in the garden, our souls can be transformed by our time in secret prayer.   

 Secret prayer is simply a term used to described our time in prayer alone with God.

 Psalm 91 has much to say about dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, 

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

 I'd love to encourage you to spend some time reading over Psalm 91, for I believe here Moses, who walked so incredibly close to God while here on earth, is encouraging us that if we truly wish to grow deeper in our walk with The Lord it will be through our time spent in the "secret place of the Most High."

Here are a few benefits I believe Psalm 91 highlights for us to encourage us to spend time with our Father in prayer:

1. R-e-s-t! 

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.(V. 1)

Not so much for our physical bodies, but our minds and anxious thoughts. Are you like me in that I can keep mulling things over and over in my mind until I finally have to say, "Enough!" and give it over to God. I have also found writing out my prayers very helpful, for it seems once I can set it down on paper before Him, I can leave it there with Him and rest.  

2. Protection

3. Freedom from Fear