But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 Everyone—newcomers, long distance believers, teenagers, kids—can turn to the still small voice and talk to Jesus. Private, profound communion with God directly shows up in your public activity for God. Ministry to people is hindered or enhanced based on the measure and vitality of your closet life. As you learn the life of the secret place, you will find that private devotion translates into public effectiveness.

Great things happen for people who forcibly press into God. We are called to advance His Kingdom and push back darkness in the nations. And He advances the Gospel through people who don't feel advantaged or full of pizazz. He wants to use even you who feel weighed down by trouble and challenge. Some of the most amazing fruit has come from people who are going through dry, dark times. The key, though, is staying in a place of connection with God.

The Kingdom of God is advanced by those who persevere. Get up one more time than you've fallen. Renew your commitment to the essential cause of Christ and become a spiritual giant in your closet by seeking God. Undeniably, the critical component to the success of your outward life is in spending time with God.

This year, commit to pursuing quality time with God. Get away from your cell phone, ignore distracting thoughts, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. What you pray out, you will walk out; that is how to advance.

Seeking God,
Pastor Jeff







© 2008 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.