In the New International Version, Matthew 6:6 says: "But 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."
However, in the King James Version, the same verse reads: "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
As a pastor's kid, I grew up in church. I have heard this verse probably over seven billion times, and I'm probably not exaggerating. Blah, blah, don't be proud and pray super loud and show off how "Christian" you are.
East Texas is a high-risk area for tornadoes. On the local news channel where I lived, there was a weatherman who had a favorite statement. We used to joke around and attempt to make up a drinking game about this particular fellow during tornado season, saying if we took a shot every time he said "small, windowless, interior room" - we would probably die of alcohol poisoning.
The word "room" used in Matthew 6:6 actually refers to an interior room, or "inner place". The word "closet" in the KJV is closer to the original text.
A few weeks ago, an interesting thought hit me.
A closet is a small, windowless, interior room. It not only keeps you private, it keeps you safe.
Prayer is also the safest "place" to be, because that is when we are in direct communication with the most powerful warrior and savior that loves us individually - especially when a storm is raging outside.
