Day : 4 : The "Our Father" : "Enter in your room..."

We discovered that even the disciples of Jesus had difficulty in praying. We then found that we were not the only ones in this situation ! The disciples simply asked Jesus to "teach us to pray." Jesus gave them what we now know as the 'Our Father' (Matthew 6: 9-13) :

"But when you pray, enter your room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is there in the secret place ; And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. In prayer, do not multiply vain words, like the pagans, who imagine that by words they will be answered. Do not resemble them ; For your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This is how you should pray: Our Father who art in heaven ! Hallowed be thy name; Let thy kingdom come ; That thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread ; Forgive us our trespasses, as we also forgive those who have offended us ; Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For to you are the kingdom, the power, and the glory in all ages. Amen !"

Jesus begins to say : "... enter your room, close your door."

It is a good thing to have a 'place of habit', a place that you reserve for the moments of prayer. This place must be private, where you "close your door", a place where you can not be disturbed. Jesus himself was often isolated to spend moments alone with his Father.

But when to pray ?

David said in Psalm 88:13 : "O. Eternal ! I implore your help and in the morning my prayer rises to you. ". Morning is the best time of the day to pray.

The house is still quiet, you get ready for the day, you are cool somehow, recharged after a good night's sleep. But, often we realize that the problem is not to get out of bed ..., but to get in ! (The day before, of course !)

When we go through a bad phase, it is often our discipline (of having learned the discipline to do it regularly and at the same time) that help us not to capsize. The reality is that there will be mornings where you will feel a bit heavy, you will not envy, etc.

It will then be the habit, and the discipline to which we have applied, which we shall maintain. And you know what ? Once your prayer time is over, you will have nine out of ten chances to feel better than when you first entered it !

In the days to come, we will see other aspects of the 'Our Father'. 

"Lord, help me develop a discipline to seek you every day, and close the door behind me !" Thank you Lord for the privilege of being able to seek you! In the name of Jesus, amen."

René de Groot