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'When thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber and, having shut the door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall recompense thee' (Matthew 6:6) (R.V.).
jesus tells us what to do when we pray. First of all we must enter into the inner chamber, and then shut the door. But where is the inner chamber?
When I was a child it was the quietest room in the house. Later is was a cupboard in the office. Later still I found it was always at hand, wherever I might be.
We carry it with us, for it is the inner room of the house of the mind. The outer rooms are round about, and the outermost, are usually crowded with the busy thoughts of worldly life.
It is not always easy to find our way to the inner room. The outer, and outermost, are so often cumbered with feverish demands on our time. Yet it is the way Jesus teaches, and it is the way experience
proves to be most effective. For however full our outer life may be, He may always be found in the secret place.Having entered the inner chamber, we are to shut the door. We do this by putting away distractions from the love of self, and the world. Then we find a quiet and peaceful state. A place inhabited by precious and tender memories, and the presence of our Father in the midst. Now indeed we can pray in secret. We soon feel the atmosphere of His Presence, and sense His mercy and love.
Almost before we begin to speak. His recompense is open before us.
'He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty' (Psalm 91, 1).
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