The Power Of The Secret Place
Sunday, February 15
Matthew 6:6 (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.”
Devotion
When Jesus tells us to close the door and pray in secret, He is inviting us into a space of complete honesty. Behind closed doors, prayer no longer needs to sound impressive or well-structured. This is the place where genuine repentance can happen, where a person can humble themselves before the Lord without fear or embarrassment. It is a place where one can weep, confess, and pour out the heart freely, knowing that God sees and understands.
The secret place is where burdens are spoken honestly and struggles are named without pretense. It is where we put our titles, our reputation, and our defenses aside and set things right with God. In that private moment, prayer becomes a real conversation, not a religious performance. God honors this sincerity because it reflects trust and dependence on Him rather than self-confidence.
Jesus contrasts this kind of prayer with the danger of public pride, which is clearly illustrated in Luke 18:11–12. This prayer was spoken openly, but it was filled with self-exaltation rather than humility. Instead of crying out for mercy, it became a list of accomplishments. This example reminds us that open prayer can easily turn into self-promotion if the heart is not guarded. God is not moved by spiritual résumés; He responds to brokenness, honesty, and repentance.
In the secret place, pride has no audience and therefore no purpose. It is there that prayer becomes a cry for help rather than a display of righteousness. Jesus teaches us that the Father sees what is done in secret, and it is that kind of prayer He chooses to reward.
Today's Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Draw me into the secret place. Help me lay aside pride, titles, and distractions, and come to You with a humble and open heart. Search me, forgive me, and renew me as I pour out my burdens before You. Teach me to value Your presence more than public recognition, and let my private prayers deepen my trust in You. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
After your time with the Lord in the secret place, carry what you shared with God into your day. When pride, stress, or frustration rises, pause and silently return to that posture of humility. Let your private prayer influence your public actions by responding to others with the same grace and honesty you experienced with God.
Resources
- Join us for service as we continue our powerful series, “The Power of Short Prayers!” Service times are 9 & 11 AM (ET). You can watch right here on the app, at freechapel.org, or on Facebook and YouTube. We’d love for you to be part of what God is doing!
- Join us tonight for our Online Game Night at 6pm via Zoom! It’s going to be a fun evening filled with laughter, connection, and community. Register Here.