The Hiddenness of Prayer

Bonhoeffer emphasizes that True Christian prayer is a private, intimate act between the believer and God, devoid of any self-display or public recognition. He warns against the hypocrisy of praying to be seen by others, as such actions are rewarded by human approval rather than divine acknowledgment. Bonhoeffer states, 'When thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret.' This underscores the importance of sincerity and humility in prayer, where the focus is solely on communion with God rather than on the act itself or its perception by others.