If my relationship with God is to be genuine, then as Jesus said, I will find the time and place to be alone with God. I will go into my room—some private, secret place shared with God alone. I will “shut the door,” meaning that all other ears and eyes will be shut out. Distractions will be minimized, as will false motives about wanting to be noticed and admired by others.
There, each of us will face the Most High alone. (We will in any case meet God in death. How much better to pave the way with private meetings beforehand.) There, with reasons that are more likely to be pure, our prayers will be directed only to God. There, we will not feel so inhibited and self-conscious. There, we will express our true feelings and needs. There, we will listen more carefully in our hearts to the answers from His word.