EFFECTIVE PRAYER…Our Prayer Closet

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. ... But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:6

I believe that since the movie The War Room, prayer closets have become more of a thing. However, I’ve found that having a designated place to meet with God, helps me to avoid all the pitfalls and distractions I often encounter when I settle down to pray.
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If you want to help your mind and heart get focused and down to business, having a place to do that is a great way to start. 

WHY DO WE NEED A SPECIAL PLACE TO PRAY?

To have a more effective life, Christians need to get serious about their prayer life.

We need to know what we are going to pray for, and who we need to lift in prayer. Having a designated place with a nice atmosphere helps us to do that. Setting aside a certain spot, or creating a closet for prayer, goes a long way in helping us to avoid the usual distractions that often plague our prayers. 

Don't get me wrong. Yes, we can pray anywhere and at anytime. And being in continual prayer truly does help us to navigate daily tasks and trials. 

ROOMS WITH A PURPOSE

I have a room that is my writing office. It is full of books, a desk, my notebooks and other things I need for work. I’ve decorated it with vines and flowers that hang from the ceiling to give it a whimsical feel. It’s a neutral color and my windows are bare of curtains so that all the light possible shines in. When I enter this room, mentally, I get ready to start working. Because this is the place where I write my books.

I have another room (we are empty-nesters now) that is full of craft stuff. When I go in there, my artist mind begins to spark. I also use this room as my prayer space. I like to journal when I pray and all my journals are in this space, along with my colored pencils/pens and other things I use in my journals. (Video of my Prayer Warrior’s Journal comings soon!)

Sometimes, when the weather is nice, I want to go outside and watch the sun brighten the sky. My garden inspires a heart of gratefulness for all His goodness.

What’s important is not where I pray, but that I have somewhere away from distractions or reminders of all the chores and other stuff I need to do.

I don’t go into my office during prayer times. Too many reminders of what tasks I have waiting for me. You know?

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

A PRAYER CLOSET CHECKLIST

This is only a suggestion. Ideas for prayer rooms can be found on YouTube and Pinterest if you wish to get more ideas.

​Basically, you can create a comfortable place in a closet, corner of a room, your patio, kitchen,  or another place where you can pray undisturbed. Some people have carved out a space in an actual closet where they set up a small table, a beanbag, or a chair to sit in.

Other tools you might consider adding:
A whiteboard or sticky notes to jot down prayers.
A shelf for your bibles, notebooks, and study guides.
A lamp if you are somewhere that doesn’t get natural light.
Some might even want to set up a candle (think safety please) or diffuser to set the mood aromatically. =D

I have a prayer journal, as I’ve stated before, where I keep all my prayers, gratitudes, answers and lists. The journal can be taken to wherever I feel like sitting for my quiet time.
For those who live in a busy household, a prayer closet might be a great solution when you need to get somewhere quiet so you can connect with God. Jesus went to the mountains to get away from his friends and followers. Do you have a sacred place to go? Is that something you would consider doing for yourself?
 
Others, who might lead busy lives can also find a little space and bits of time to pray.
 
You can pray while doing your dishes, vacuuming, or doing other chores. Pray during long drives. That’s a great time to get with the Lord while on the open road. I’ve prayed in the shower—you know nothing is hindering you there, right? Ha! 

The only problem with praying on the go, is making yourself get still so that you can hear back from the Lord. He enjoys speaking to us, too. 

Wherever you go to pray, the most important factor is to set aside time to commune with God, to read His word, to seek His direction for your life. Life will go so much more smoothly if we will connect with our creator and source of life. Don't you think? 

Next week, I'll be back with my final installment of this series, and a video showing you my journals and how I use them. If this series has blessed you, please let me know in the comments. Same if you have questions from any part of this series. I'll answer as best as I can. 

Blessings to you all.
​J. Castle

Isaiah 26:20 - Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.