There are cases where corporate prayer is needed; verses that exhort us to confess sin to one another; and instances in the Book of Acts where such activities occurred starting with the room where the Apostles met and basically hid after the Resurrection before the Holy Spirit came upon them and they started speaking in tongues. Certainly there are examples of answered prayers; such as I had for a brother in the Lord a few years ago who met the lady who is now his wife 2 days after praying for that very thing at his request.
Matthew 6:5-6 seems to be a context involving those who made much about their fasting and self-sacrifice (Pharisees) which could be a principle for us as well. It is not to show how pious we are in prayer through some dramatic gesture. Certainly there are a few other circumstances as well. There are times in confidence when someone gives you a request. This can occur when an unnamed person is referred from someone else; or perhaps on this forum where perhaps we can share it with others but they will not know who the person is asking for it; and the person themselves won't either and won't know who we are either. There are also those we may run into on the street or we may meet in our travels who are unsafe to invite to our homes or who we never will see again. Finally there are some personal issues which God has given us answers for; or perhaps things which the Spirit moves us to pray about even if we can't understand the reason.
In conclusion; we don't need to PROVE God answers something because ultimately those who don't believe won't unless the Lord gives them ears to hear. Just as much knowledge in scripture doesn't save anyone either. Those who would say it is good luck; coincidence or a random act of kindness could also tell us it is our own imagination or "self fulfilling prophecy." We must be wise not to "cast our pearls before swine." ( Matt. 7:6; see also Matt. 5:44)
There are cases where corporate prayer is needed; verses that exhort us to confess sin to one another; and instances in the Book of Acts where such activities occurred starting with the room where the Apostles met and basically hid after the Resurrection before the Holy Spirit came upon them and they started speaking in tongues. Certainly there are examples of answered prayers; such as I had for a brother in the Lord a few years ago who met the lady who is now his wife 2 days after praying for that very thing at his request.
Matthew 6:5-6 seems to be a context involving those who made much about their fasting and self-sacrifice (Pharisees) which could be a principle for us as well. It is not to show how pious we are in prayer through some dramatic gesture. Certainly there are a few other circumstances as well. There are times in confidence when someone gives you a request. This can occur when an unnamed person is referred from someone else; or perhaps on this forum where perhaps we can share it with others but they will not know who the person is asking for it; and the person themselves won't either and won't know who we are either. There are also those we may run into on the street or we may meet in our travels who are unsafe to invite to our homes or who we never will see again. Finally there are some personal issues which God has given us answers for; or perhaps things which the Spirit moves us to pray about even if we can't understand the reason.
In conclusion; we don't need to PROVE God answers something because ultimately those who don't believe won't unless the Lord gives them ears to hear. Just as much knowledge in scripture doesn't save anyone either. Those who would say it is good luck; coincidence or a random act of kindness could also tell us it is our own imagination or "self fulfilling prophecy." We must be wise not to "cast our pearls before swine." ( Matt. 7:6; see also Matt. 5:44)
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