But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6:6)
In Matthew 6, the Gospel writer recorded Jesus's teaching on prayer. Jesus instructed His followers to enter into their closets to pray. The closet symbolizes a private, undisturbed place to talk to God. When you pray, you need to focus solely on Him. That means blocking out all distractions and things that may try to take your focus away from Him. That may mean turning off or putting away your cell phone, not having the television on, and finding a private place to be alone with God.
While corporate prayer is powerful and essential, the intimate moments we spend alone with God are crucial for our growth and relationship with Him. Just as our bodies need daily nourishment, our spirits require daily communion with God. This time allows us to speak to Him, share our hearts, and listen to His guidance.
Choose a specific time each day to meet with God. This could be early morning, during lunch, or before bed. Consistency helps build a habit of prayer. Find a quiet place where you can be alone and free from distractions. This could be a room in your house, a park, or a car.
When you make it a point to pursue personal prayer, Jesus' promise is clear: God, Who sees what is done in secret, will reward you openly.
Practical Application
Prayer is talking to God and listening to Him. When you spend time in private prayer, make sure you also have a time of silence, allowing God to speak to your heart.