The Purpose of a Prayer Closet

All throughout life we go through talking to many people. Classmates, family, friends and often times many strangers as well. Some we may seek advice or guidance from elders such as parents, pastors or even professors. While will enjoy a casual conversation with someone with hopes of finding romance. Nonetheless we grow and mature to the point where we can dictate the differences in pitches and tone to be able to tell who is calling you from a distance or who you are speaking with on the phone. But when it comes to the living being that matters the most, which is the most high God, we all tend to struggle to recognize His voice and direction. We must set ourselves up, to be available when He sees our efforts. So for the next 6 weeks we are going to fix our hearts on Him.

Week1
       A Prayer Closet
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 KJV)

When we go out on our hot dates, or spend the evening with our loved ones we want every second of our time dedicated specifically to and with them. We could go to the movie theatre and completely ignore everybody inside and focus on them. How many times have we seen young couples in public having an intimate moment with each other, kissing and making out, with complete disregard of their surrounding and people walking by? Many people shun their "public display of affection", making rude comments like, "get a room" or "have some respect or class". It's not the gross image of two teens slobbering each other down we need to focus on, but it is the intensity of their focus on one another, that we should take from it. If we as believers could focus on God with out the distractions around us, just like the young couples do, we would be able to set ourselves up to have that special encounter with God.
We as believers need to be better at focusing on the spiritual world and not the physical world. In 2 Corinthians 5:7 its tell us that we walk by faith and not by sight. Keeping that scripture in mind, and going on to verse 8, reveals the magnitude of living in the spiritual sense; and that reason is that, we are not home. We all are striving to that great and marvelous day that we will wake up and be with our one true Father.
However we all simply lack the discipline to avoid the physical world around us, to focus on the spiritual world within us. Jesus understands that our flesh is stronger than our spirit, simply because we naturally feed our flesh more. While understanding this concept Jesus gives his followers and disciples specific direction on what to do while praying.
In Mathew Chapter 6, starting in verse 5 Jesus start teaching on the subject of praying and fasting. He starts off this lesson using the leaders as an example.  He tells us how they pray in front of large crowds, but in doing so they seek to please the crowd using big words, with unnecessary vocal projection. It is one thing to be passionate in prayer, and another just to be entertaining. Many times we put ourselves and our images before the very reason we are sent to pray, which is to be in communion with God to respect and honor God, ask for forgiveness and the ability to forgive, as well as asking for guidance for both our brothers and sisters in Christ and ourselves.
Nonetheless Jesus tells us that they are praying to be seen as "Holy" to go along with their title. They are trying to uplift and live up to their expectations that come with their title, instead of uplifting and living up to God's standards.  Jesus put a notice on this behavior, and gives us a suggestion to correct it.
He instructs us in verse six to go into our closet and shut the door. He is telling us that we need to be totally in-tune, and focused onGod to be able to hear God speak. We need to eliminate the distractions. We must lock ourselves in a room so that only the invited shall enter, which is only God. As we learn to leave the cell phones, computers, children, friends and family out of our communication with God we will only then be able to focus solely on God giving Him our complete undivided attention.  Whether we accept it or not, our God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14) He despise the fact that we put others (people or things) before Him. He adores when He is first and He has your complete focus. When we submit and give what He is longing for, we then are inviting Him into our closet, and our hearts.
Only you can determine where your closet will be. It could be an actual closet in your bedroom or house. For some it could be while you are in the bathroom room, taking a shower or handling business. Some people may want to sit peacefully in a garden, on a beach, or even in their car. I have personally done all these at one point or another. The only important part about our closet is that it is a private place that only God can distract you.
After we have gain accustomed to not allowing anybody or anything interfere with our time with God we can then mature to the point to where we can focus on Him wholeheartedly in the midst of the physical world. It wont bother us who is listening to our prayer, it wont matter who is watching, or who you are praying for. You will grasp the idea that is just you and God having a young couples intimate PDA (Public Display of Affection) moment.
I encourage you this week to take time to sit and mediate on God and only God, Daily. Do not ask Him for anything, do not speak. Just sit and dwell on your Lord. Allow your mind to wonder and ponder on who He is to you. Turn your phone off for that time. Lock your door so your siblings, wife, husband, friends or family can not reach you until you want to be reach, but only after your time with God is complete.