The Light Within: Where is that 'secret place' for prayer?

That “secret place” is the place for prayer, which I believe should be foremost in our lives, particularly since, according to recent polls, a high majority of Americans believe in God. At probably no other time in our unsettled history is the power of prayer needed in our individual and collective lives.

We often hear someone say, “Pray for me,” or, “Pray for peace,” but some of us may not know how to feel the assurance that God hears us — and more importantly — the assurance that we are hearing God. My own experience and the experience of countless others have convinced me of the good effect prayer has in our lives.

King Claudius — in Shakespeare’s "Hamlet" — said, “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go.” How true. God hears and knows us through thoughts, no matter how eloquent our words may be. And, there are many reasons why our thoughts “remain below.” Among these are half-hearted expectations, distractions, a busy life and discouragement. Expectancy and effort are important in prayer.

Christ Jesus tells us how to pray in the sixth chapter of Matthew where he says, “—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 is in secret shall reward thee openly.”

In other words, we are assured that there is a place — a secret place — to which we can go for answers to our prayers.

The “closet” to which Jesus refers certainly isn’t a material structure. It’s a spiritual place — reached mentally – and it’s in our thinking. We enter it by closing our mental door to the clamoring distractions of life. Next, we become quiet. Then, in this atmosphere of calm, we search our consciousness for that secret place – unknown to the world – but, oh, so definitely known to God. When asked where the Kingdom of Heaven is, Christ Jesus said it is within you.

When our thoughts reach that secret place (where there is more love, peace, strength and power than the world could ever imagine) we are prepared to commune with God. We find that place by practicing, striving and believing. Then, in secret with God, we can through our thoughts let our concerns be made known to Him.

Although answers or results so often do not appear to come immediately, we can keep our faith that God does — and will — (to use Christ’s words again) “reward thee openly.” And, so often, the answer may be different — but much better — than we might have hoped for.

What should we pray for? I don’t believe God wants us to pray for a specific job, for example, for which several persons are competing — the other applicants, too, could be praying — or for a victory in a particular baseball game. (Again, the other team could also be praying). I think Christ Jesus was thinking of such matters when he said we ask amiss.

I do believe, however, God does answer the following prayers for ourselves and those for whom we pray. For example, “Give us strength and protection for everyone to compete well in today’s game,” or, “Lead me to satisfying employment,” or, “Guide me to a happy, lasting marriage.”

In each case we are asking God for His plan for our strength, direction, employment or companionship, all of which will not hurt anyone else. Let us remember Christ Jesus’ prayer: “Thy will be done,” a significant part of the Lord’s Prayer. And how satisfied we are when the answer is provided by God.

We are reminded of the example of God’s little hummingbird that leaves its Michigan home for the winter on a 2,000-mile flight (and much of which is over water) to Central America, then back to its own backyard in Michigan the next summer. That simplicity of trust can inspire us.

May we remember that with God all things are possible.

Don Kleinsmith is a member of the Christian Science Church in Adrian. He can be reached at kleinsmith968@gmail.com or 517-263-6357.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Don Kleinsmith: Where is that 'secret place' for prayer?