30-Day Devotional
DAY 18
february 16
“[Jesus’] prayer life is an expression on his relationship with his Father. He wants to be alone with the person he loves.”
— A.T. Pierson
“when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your father who is in secret. and your father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:6
TODAY’S PRAYER THOUGHT
The first thing Jesus teaches his disciples regarding prayer is to pray in secret. Why? Because “your Father who sees you in secret will reward you.” Prayer isn’t for show. It isn’t to be heard by others as a skill to be celebrated. Prayer is something else. It is intimate. It is time alone with your Father. Calling him “Father” is also key. It gives us a sense of the kind of intimacy we can expect. It is the intimacy enjoyed between a loving father and the son he delights to be with. As much as I, as a father, long for one-on-one time with my son to help him navigate life, how much more does our heavenly father long to be with you?
TODAY’S PRAYER FOR GOD’S PEOPLE
Father, I want to experience the intimacy that Jesus had with you. Help me develop this discipline of daily alone time with you. And in that time, will you show your heart to me?
TODAY’S PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE ON YOUR LIST
Father, please give each person on my list eyes to see that only you can satisfy the deep longings of their soul.
Written by Pastor Carter Sanger // Cornerstone Presbyterian Church
