Prayer is one of the most intimate things we can do — yet it’s also one of the easiest to misunderstand. Many see prayer as a way to get results or to say the right words. But Jesus showed us something deeper: God isn’t impressed by performance — He’s moved by sincerity.
In Matthew 6, Jesus said, “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.”
That verse reminds us that prayer is not about being seen by others but about being known by God. The kind of prayer that moves heaven is the one that’s honest, humble, and hidden. It’s not about perfect words — it’s about an open heart.
We see this again in the parable of the tax collector and the religious man who went to pray. The religious man listed all the good things he had done, while the tax collector simply said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Only one of them walked away approved — and it wasn’t the one who looked the most spiritual.
God values authenticity over appearance. He invites us to come as we are, not as we pretend to be. Prayer is meant to be personal before it ever becomes public. When we focus on impressing others, we lose the intimacy that prayer is meant to create.
Prayer also requires focus. We live in a distracted world, always pulled in a thousand directions. But when we pause, quiet the noise, and fix our attention on God, something powerful happens — our hearts align with His. We begin to see what He sees, feel what He feels, and desire what He desires.
Daniel’s story reminds us what this kind of devotion looks like. Even when his faith was outlawed, he continued to pray three times a day — not for show, but because his relationship with God mattered more than public approval. His consistency in private led to his deliverance in public.
That’s the beauty of prayer: what you do unseen positions you for what God wants to reveal.
Popularity doesn’t open doors — prayer does.
Performance doesn’t move mountains — faith does.
And God’s approval is always worth more than the world’s applause.
Call to Action
This week, take a few moments to pray in private.
Turn off the noise, close the door, and just talk to God — honestly.
Tell Him where you’re struggling, where you’re grateful, and what you need.
Then be still long enough to listen.
Because when prayer becomes personal, approval becomes divine.
By Pastor Lorenzo DellaForesta