INTRODUCTION

Should prayer be kept private or can it be done in publick? For various reasons, some believers have grown increasingly concerned about the appropriate places to call upon the Lord. In Matthew 6:5-6 [5] And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [6] 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.
See All..., the Lord rebuked the publick prayers of the hypocrites and suggested that His people should enter into their closets to pray. The Lord Himself followed this pattern by seeking a “solitary place” in which to pray (Mark 1:35And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
See All...). Does this mean that the Lord opposed all publick prayer? It is important to consider the whole counsel of God. Obviously the Lord was not displeased with the publick prayer meeting held by believers in the early church – He answered their prayer by freeing Peter (Acts 12:12And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
See All...). Furthermore, the Lord expressed His will – for men to “pray every where.”

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Sometimes Jesus prayed when He was all alone (Matthew 14:23And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
  See All...). Sometimes He prayed out loud in front of others. For example, He prayed publickly on the cross (Luke 23:34Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
  See All...) and before He fed the 5,000 (John 6:11And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
  See All...). We should be able to pray alone or aloud when the need arises. Could you pray aloud for a sick friend?
• (For everyone): Why did the Lord rebuke the publick prayer of the hypocrites? Why would the Lord disapprove of the publick prayer of those who refuse to pray in private?
• Why is it important that God’s people pray in places other than those which are solitary? Why is it important that we pray together? Why is it important that we pray in publick?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to give you a strong private prayer life.
• Ask God to help you not be ashamed to pray in publick.

HYMN

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