Matthew 6:5-15
Prayer
5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.' 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Jesus teaches us to pray from the heart, to pray inwardly and by oneself...Pray alone and go into a room and close the door and pray to God, who is unseen...
There are times when we do pray together, with people, but the outward prayer and praying with someone or others much of the time can focus on general subjects and not be personal with God...Praying with others can also, as Jesus tells us, draw attention to ourselves...There is a benefit from these outward prayers, but Jesus says there is a better way to pray...And that is alone...
When you pray, make it personal with your Father...Go in an empty room, even close the door, and pray personally to your Father...Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you...