The Prayer Closet

For me, it is the time in my bath tub, tucked away from the noises and TV, phone, and distractions when I can feel myself getting quieter.  Then, tucked in again and wrapped in blankets as I snuggle into bed, is again my set aside time with God.  That is my prayer closet time, something I have come to cherish.  It wasn’t always that way – there have been times when devotional study was feeling more like school study, a means to an end.  But slowly over time, it has become a time with someone whose relationship I cherish. 

Prayer, “going into your room, closing the door and praying to your Father, who is unseen,” is a quiet and personal time.  It is not a time to parade, to babble, to show off with prayer.  Instead, we are told in Matthew that we should “go into our room, and close the door”. 

Then, how do we pray?  How do we converse with God? 

"This, then, is how you should pray: 
   " 'Our Father in heaven, 
   hallowed be your name, 
 your kingdom come, 
   your will be done 
      on earth as it is in heaven. 
 Give us today our daily bread. 
 Forgive us our debts, 
      as we also have forgiven our debtors. 
 And lead us not into temptation, 
   but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

(Matthew 6: 9-15)

Praise, submitting, requesting, forgiving, guidance, protection – they are all there in these few lines.   Praising God for His amazing grace, His love, and for His very presence is mentioned first with hallowed.  Something that is hallowed is holy, sacred, revered, and consecrated.  Hallow also means that it is something that is not only set apart, but set apart for holy use and great respect.  So, this is the first part and is a reminder of how very special this time is as the holy and set apart Lord makes time for me and you, desiring a personal relationship and conversation. 

Your kingdom come, your will be done – it takes tremendous trust or simple and complete desperation often to drive me to this spot.  As someone who likes details, likes to know what is planned next, I find quite often that I am either gripped by a problem or taking a leap of faith for this next part.  Your will be done – your wish, command, action, or insistence God – that is what I’m seeking.  If you have ever relinquished this you will know scary a thing it can really be.  What if I don’t like where God leads me?  That is where the trusting relationship comes in and this becomes a little easier.  When the relationship is strong, it grows easier to trust God’s will.  On earth as it is in heaven, reflecting the kingdom of God on earth.

There are requests, not a wish list, but a request for needs.  Daily bread is sustenance for our physical bodies, which we need to function.  Then, it is sustenance of our soul, healing of the wounds with two part forgiveness.  We forgive and are forgiven.  It’s not an easy thing to let go of the hurt and anger, or frustration and disillusionment, which may be directed towards ourselves or others.  Yet, we are told here quite clearly to forgive and be forgiven.  It is a wonderful extension of grace, and as we are extended grace we are to pass it along. 

Delivery from the evil ones would be delivery from Satan and request for protection from the temptations that come along.  Like a roaring lion or a subtle serpent, the enemy comes in with an attack.  We request protection from the true enemy who weaves lies subtly, or attacks boldly leading us to assail each other in the confusion of the battlefield. 

Prayer, speaking to God, basically is spending some time with a friend whom you love dearly.  With total honesty, grace, and love the conversation occurs.