Our opening scripture has two major applications: One is about private or personal prayer. This is where you are talking to the Lord in privacy. In this regard, entering into thy closet signify getting to a separate private place and talk to God. This is called in secret. Jesus Himself had such moments of personal and private prayer. Matthew 14:23 bears witness to this, "And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone." This was private prayer and it has its own irreplaceable benefits in your life. The second application deals with the attitude of our hearts in prayer. In the 5th verse of Matthew 6 Jesus stated, "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward". This shows you that the Lord was dealing with their attitude of craving acknowledgement from others. This was selfishness and pride. This problem cannot be treated exclusively with change of physical location of prayer.

Getting into your closet therefore means more than just having private prayer. It means a focused devotion of your heart toward God where you are actively conscious of God's presence more than the presence of men. In your closet of heart, you are so intimately in love with Him and there is no room for vain glory and the empty craving for the praises of men. Philippians 2:3 says, "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory". In this closet of your heart your motivation and aspiration are purified to be void of selfishness and pride.

Whether you are praying in public or private, get into the closet of your heart, shutting out the world, so conscious of God's presence. The Holy Spirit and the Word of God unites your heart in reverential fear enhancing your consciousness of Him while pruning you of any selfishness within.