“When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:6).
We need to understand the depth and power of what Jesus is saying here when he talks about the Father seeing in secret. We may pray religious prayers hoping to be seen as a wonderful saint, but God not only doesn’t hear those prayers, he doesn’t even notice that we are praying.
Since God sees “in secret,” he only sees us or hears us when our hearts are in communion with him in the secret place of his heart. He will only glance upon, look toward, and give favor to that which transpires in the heart of the secret place. That prayer must come from communion with him, not from a desire to demonstrate our eloquence and passion or to make a show of our faith. It is entrance into the realm of the Spirit and not just a physical room that Jesus is talking about here. It’s his place, and when you get there, he sees you. He doesn’t see your fleshly efforts — in fact, he ignores them.
When Jesus sees you seeking him, you win his heart. Song of Solomon says that with just one glance we have won his heart (4:9, AMP). Some people have worked hard in the flesh and have yet to sense God’s favor, but those who meet him in his secret place and move out into works of love are constantly under his eyes and care.
If you are running around striving to be recognized and honored, seeking prestige and power, hoping that people will pat you on the back, you are going to be disappointed when one day you stand before the Father. Sadly, he will say, “I know you were busy doing a lot of things that you thought were wonderful, but I saw those saints who were seeking my face.”