It is
as impossible to live and prosper spiritually without
prayer as it is to live and prosper physically without
food. Those who enjoy a close walk with God and have power
with him are those who pray. Natural abilities and
intellectuality can never supply any lack in spirituality.
Unless you are spiritual, you are
of but little use to God and to be spiritual, you must
live much in prayer. It is not those who are on their
knees the more often or the longest that do the most
praying. Some pray more real prayer in one hour than
others in two or three hours. Too many people leave the
door open. Prayer that feeds the soul must be offered with
the door shut. "But thou, when thou prayest, enter
into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to
thy Father which is in secret." Matt. 6:6.
God is in secret. He is hidden from
the world. The world does not see Him, neither knows Him.
You can never reach God in your prayers unless you shut
out the world. Shutting the door means something more than
closing the door of your literal closet. Persons may enter
the literal closet and close the door, and yet have the
world in their hearts and thoughts. Such have not closed
the door in the true sense.
In the public assembly you must
enter your closet when you pray, and shut the door, or
your prayers avail not with God. You must talk from your
heart to the heart of God. Those assembled may hear your
words, but they do not know the secret. The secret is
between your heart and the heart of God. You scarcely hear
your words. You know and hear more of the speaking of your
heart. There is a blessing in such praying; there is a joy
that can not be told. Such prayer feeds the soul upon the
divine life and lifts us in realms of light and happiness.
Thank God for the sweet privilege of secret intercourse
with Him. O beloved, when you pray, enter into your
closet, and be sure to close the door.
