May 27

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.

DO I prize the privilege, of secret prayer in the closet? Where no human eye can see, and no human ear can hear, there do I rejoice to pour out my heart before God, acknowledging every weakness, confessing every error, and asking the special grace that I feel I specially need? Every sin do I bring to him for pardon; every weakness, for strength; every sorrow, for comfort; every trial, for support; and every perplexity and difficulty and doubt, for light and guidance and direction? Here do I seek all that I need, for time and eternity?

I must be often in the closet. God enjoins it. My special necessities demand it. I must do it that I may grow in grace and may not decline in spirituality and wander from God. It is a solemn duty, a glorious and blessed privilege, thus to commune with God; to breathe his Spirit, and receive the impress of his image upon my heart. Oh, may I ever prize, and seek to improve it. By divine grace I will, till I am raised from prayer on earth to endless praise in heaven. *

Go with pure mind and feeling,

Fling earthly thoughts away,

And in thy chamber kneeling,

In secret often pray.

And he whose voice doth call thee there,

Shall hear and answer all thy prayer.

—LORD MORPETH.