SECRET PRAYER by Percy T. Odekirk

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 15, 1876

SECRET PRAYER.

By Percy T. Odekirk

It is the duty of every Christian to pray in secret. Our Saviour enjoined it upon all his followers, by precept, by promise, and by his own blessed example. “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.” Matt. 6:6. The precept is positive, the promise is certain. In both the singular number is used. Christ here says to each of his followers, “Enter into thy closet.” “Pray to thy Father.” “Thy Father shall reward thee.” As obedience to the divine precept is generally attended with a present blessing, so it is here; for secret prayer sweetly inclines us to a cheerful performance of every other religious duty and service; the power of godliness in the soul flourishes or decays, as the private duty of secret prayer is attended to or neglected.

Look at the Saviour’s example of prayer. How often do we read of his sending the multitude away and going into a mountain apart to pray. St. Mark mentions his rising up a great while before day for that purpose (Mark 1:35), and Luke records one instance of his going into a mountain to pray, and continuing all night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12.) When his heart was full of heaviness, his soul exceeding sorrowful, instead of telling the particulars of the sad tale into the ears of his disciples, who loved him, said unto them, “Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.” Matt. 26:36. There he unbosomed his soul to his Father, offering up “prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him who was able to save him from death. Heb. 5:7.”

Oh, how sweet it is to draw away from the busy throngs of the world, and spend a few short moments in secret prayer. But in all our prayers we should look mainly to the heart. The eye of God is then fixed in an especial manner upon it. He does not look at the eloquence, the length of prayer, or the number of them, but at the sincerity of the heart. He approves, accepts, and rewards no prayer, but that in which the heart is engaged. It is not the lifting of the voice, the wringing of the hands, or the smiting on the breast, that he regards, but the motions of the heart. He hears with approbation no more than the heart speaks in sincerity.

Every prayer should be offered in the name of Jesus. Through him alone we have access with boldness to the throne of grace. He is our advocate with the Father. When we appear before God in secret, the Saviour appears also, “for ‘he ever liveth to make intercession for us;’” and he has assured us that whatsoever we shall ask in his name, he will do it that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13. And again, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:23, 24.

“Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer, That calls me from a world of care, And bids me at my Father’s throne Make all my wants and wishes known.”

PERCY T. ODEKIRK.

New Rutland, Ill.