by Michael and Karen Steele

Matthew 6:6 reads: “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your father who is in the secret place; and your father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

The world is so big and so open and so wonderful, so why does the Lord direct us to go into our room and shut the door to pray or talk to him? That is because the Lord is way too familiar with how human thoughts can wander. We start praying and then think of everything we must do that day or even that week.

We must train ourselves to give ourselves completely to God in prayer. We must take our minds off us and focus on the Lord. We must train ourselves to pray. It is only when you have trained yourself to commit totally to the Lord that you can go out into the fields and mountains, and even your own backyard, and talk to the Lord without the distraction of the world around you.

Prayer is so important! Train yourself properly so you will feel comfortable coming to the Lord in prayer, no matter what our surroundings are and what our circumstances are.

The Steeles are members of the Pennsylvania Northern Tier Chapter of Fellowship of Christian Farmers International. They are based in Williamsport, Pa.