Vaughn J. Featherstone wrote:
Now the Lord taught us to pray in secret. What happens to us when we pray in secret? First, our faith is put to the test. How foolish people would feel who pray alone and really do not believe in God. We pray in public and people might think we believe in God. We pray in public and people might think we believe, but praying alone takes faith. When we pray alone there is no one to impress with our command of the language, with our beautiful phrases or eloquence. We simply talk with a loving interested Father about what is troubling us most. We take problems that no one else, not another living soul, can help us with. We become like little children, feeling a dependence and need for someone wiser and with power and influence. We do not have to worry about embarrassment if our prayers are not answered the way we think they should be, because only we and God know what we pray. When tears come there is no embarrassment. We can be totally honest, knowing that we cannot lie to or deceive the Spirit of God. He knows us for our real worth. He knows who and what we really are, not what we seem to be. When we have personal problems or struggles, we can pray and know that these things are kept totally confidential. We can discuss our weaknesses, our sins, our frustrations, our needs, and know that He will listen and respond.
We can learn a great deal about a person by the way he or she prays in private. A hurried, get-it-done attitude in private prayer shows a lack of reverence for God and demonstrates that perhaps that person does pray to be heard of men.
The hymn recalls, “There is an hour of peace and rest unmarred by earthly care; ’tis when before the Lord I go, and kneel in secret prayer.” The last verse reminds me of the comfort we receive: “When storms are strewn along my path, and foes my feet ensnare, My Savior to my aid will come, if sought in secret prayer.” (Hans Peterson, “Secret Prayer,” Hymns, no. 144.) ~Vaughn J. Featherstone, (From the book: A Year of Powerful Prayer (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2013) 128-29 (Day 113)
