Pray

Matthew 6. 1 - 6, 16 - 18

But whenever 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.

I have talked about the movie War Room here before, but today's gospel reading reminded me of it again. I recommend the movie to people all the time and would love to have a big theatre showing of it sometime soon. Without giving too much away, I can just say that the War Room is the prayer command central for a very holy woman.

After I saw that movie I made myself a little war room. It is an alcove in an extra bedroom where the washing machine and dryer used to be. But today it is my favorite spot in the house. It has icons and candles and prayer requests and thanksgivings and pictures on the walls on either side of my mother's old chair. Above my chair are three shelves full of books. I organize them periodically, but they end up looking like this after a short time.

My brother said they might all fall on me one day if I am not careful, and that would be a fitting demise for a bookaholic like me!

But this little prayer nook is where I go every morning to listen to God in secret. And when my Discipleship Group reads the Pray vow in our litany every Tuesday morning, I am reminded that at least this part of the restoration of my discipleship has been attempted.

By God’s grace, I will set aside time regularly for prayer, “praying to God in secret”(Mt. 6:6), working toward twenty minutes a day.