Week One: Shut The Door

Thank you for joining me on this journey!

The first week’s verse we will focus on is found in Matthew 6 where Jesus says,

“But 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 (ESV)

In this passage, Jesus is comparing the way the Pharisees are heartlessly, flippantly praying for show and what prayer should really look like. 

There are seasons where taking time like this feels a lot easier and more natural than other times where it can sound impossible.

I was praying through how this could look especially in seasons where a moment to myself feels rare and wrestling with how we could possibly follow this posture of prayer that Jesus tells us to take.

And graciously, God answered in my questioning:

“If I am where your strength comes from, why would I ever lead you into a season where you’re too busy to sit with Me?”

We all have our responsibilities in family, and jobs, and different roles we take on. 

But, God hasn’t given us so many responsibilities that we’d need to cut Him out of our day to make time for everything else. 

In fact, the opposite is true. He gives us responsibilities that require us to faithfully prioritize Him in our day to even walk in.

I’m not saying that God doesn’t meet us during the day while we’re in the thick of daily routine and activities. He absolutely does! And will continue to.

But, there has come a point in our days where we do meet Him in this way Jesus describes, because this is a way that He wants us, and intends for us, to spend time with Him. Even to the point where He will reward us. Which tells us that by not making time for Him in this way, we are missing out on the reward He wants us to live in!

He’s never going to call us into such a busy season that we can’t follow His Word.

So if you’re in a season where your greatest struggle is that you’re too busy to find time to “Go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father in secret” (aka ALONE)…

Something’s got to give.

Maybe this week needs to be a reflection on if you’ve taken on too much, even in the well-intentioned name of ministry. If God’s called you into it, you will have consistent time to sit with Him alone at His feet as He guides and strengthens you to walk in His calling on your life.

So if you can’t make that happen with the current schedule you have, it’s a red flag that you’ve taken on too much.

But what if you’re in a season where you can’t necessarily let go of any of your responsibilities?

Maybe you’re in the thick of a very demanding time where the responsibility of other people, family, kids rests heavy and constant on your shoulders.

Personally, my greatest struggle following through on this is my own kids and desire to spend time with my husband when we finally have a moment alone. But, God’s reminded me that He is the One who’s given me these precious relationships. And He’s put people in my life who can come around me to free me up to spend time with Him and be refreshed, guided, and strengthened as I follow Him in the life He’s given me. 

For me, it’s my husband who takes on the responsibilities of the kids when I can sneak away for a half hour, hour, whatever is possible for that day, and lets me take my time with my God.

Do you need to ask that of someone who God’s put in your own life?

Giving God the highest priority in your life will sometimes take giving up some time with lesser priorities, certainly important and dearly loved, but still lesser in comparison to Your God.

Week One’s challenge is to take Jesus’ words in this Matthew 6 verse seriously. Don’t let a day go by where you haven’t closed the door behind you and prayed in secret.

What steps will this take for you to be able to do that? 

Is it setting an alarm on your phone reminding you to take time during a free part of your day?

Is it asking someone in your life to take on the kids or other responsibility for a time each day this week when they don’t necessarily need you, and you can sneak away to take time with your Father?

Is it taking an honest look at all the commitments that you’ve taken on and prayerfully seeking if there is something you need to give up in order to let time at Jesus’ feet take precedence?   

My prayer for each of us is that the Holy Spirit would continue to remind us of this verse throughout our days this week, and guide us with strength in how to live it out.

From one of His children to another,

Christi