Our brain is the most fascinating part of our body, yet we take it for granted. I’m not a doctor, I’m not a biologist but I do like to read and to learn and to discover so, I enjoy digging deep and making interesting connections.
One such connection is the link between the inner room, inner
chamber, closet or simply room in some translations, that Jesus spoke of in
Matthew 6:6 and the brain. This, it turns out, is an exhaustive topic which I
hope to condense. I encourage you to research for yourself.
But you, when you
pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who
is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret
will reward you. – Matthew 6:6 (NASB 1995)
From the signals it receives from our bodies and the outside
world, our brain is capable of producing an array of responses that provide us
with rich and oftentimes complex experiences.
These responses can range from basic everyday movements,
that we do by rote, to abstract reasoning.
The human brain is an amazing creation, made up of a collection of
specialized systems that interact; no single area of the brain works in
isolation.
The human brain comprises two hemispheres with each
containing four different regions called lobes. These lobes are distinct yet
work together magnificently. Our brain functions multidimensionally.
And it is this multidimensional functionality that Jesus
appears to use as a template for prayer in Matthew chapter six. Though this
chapter forms part of Jesus’ sermon on the mount, here He was speaking directly
to His devoted followers, His disciples (see Luke 11:1-4), the ones who would
have to be well-equipped to carry out the Great Commission (see Matthew
28:16-20).
You see, when Jesus instructed His disciples, in Matthew
6:6, when you pray, go into your inner room, He wasn’t only sending them to a physical
location but was directing them on how to properly connect to God the Father
just as He connected internally.
Those whom Jesus called to be His disciples would have grown
accustomed to a certain way of praying and must have recognized that Jesus’ way
was far different from other Rabbis and priests. They would have noticed that even
if they were nearby, Jesus would go off alone to pray in solitude.
Jesus gave them three protocols to follow if they were to
make that ultimate connection:
Do not be hypocritical – in other words their intentions
must be honest, real. (v 5)
Do not stand and pray in public to be
seen by men. (v 5)
Do not use meaningless
repetition. (v 7)
So, where exactly is this inner room? In last week Thursday’s
blog post, “Your Inner Room”, I shared with you that I discovered that there’s a
part of our brain called the thalamus which is located at the centre of each of
our brains and that the word is derived from ancient Greek thalamos, meaning
the inner room or chamber, the most private room in a Greek home and carries the
same meaning as tameion.
From this, we can conclude that Jesus was introducing His
disciples to a much more profound concept of prayer. He was directing the
disciples to an internal space or place – somewhere within themselves. What did
Jesus say to the Pharisees in Luke 17:20-21?
The kingdom of God does not
come with signs to be observed or with visible display, Nor will
people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom
of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding
you]. (AMPC)
This speaks of Presence deep inside your regenerated self,
at the control centre of your being. Your brain is the control centre of your
body and has a very powerful influence on your stress levels, your mood and
your overall health.
These structures at the centre of your brain are essential for
its proper functioning; they work together to create a harmonious performance and
contribute to the complexity of your behaviour and your cognitive abilities.
By now you may be thinking, “Your inner Room is in your
Brain? Okay, all this information is great but how does it relate to what Jesus
said in Matthew chapter six?”
We’re getting there but it will be a too-long post so, let’s
leave that for another day. Amen?
Amen †
Shelley Johnson “Your inner Room is in your Brain?” © 2026 June 26, 2026
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