“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.” (Matthew 6:6)

Do you have one? Do you have a prayer closet? Years ago, after seeing the movie War Room, it struck me that I should have a prayer closet of my own. That solitary place, providing me with a solitary space in which to be alone with my Heavenly Father, God. It is that audience of one that I so desire. Who doesn’t wish to have someone’s undivided attention? To have someone’s sympathetic and understanding ear any time of day or night? Such is the power of the prayer closet. I can enter in at any time.

“Therefore, since I have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let me hold firmly to the faith I profess. . . . Let me then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that I may receive mercy and find grace to help me in my time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

This morning, I took a long walk in one of my many prayer closets. That’s right. You heard me correctly, I have multiple prayer closets! After all, a girl can never have too many closets, can she? As I walked alone in the cool stillness of the early morning, surrounded by the myriad hues of green that are abundant at this time in late summer, tree branches towering over me beneath a clear morning sky, I realized I was in perhaps my favorite prayer closet of all. With every step I found myself crying out to God, taking Him at His word to “cast all my cares on Him because He cares for me.”

But it occurred to me today as I petitioned my Heavenly Father, that prayer is so much more than petition. I don’t want to neglect prayer’s other aspects and thereby miss out on all the prayer closet experience is meant to be. Surrounded by the beauty of creation, I found myself praising God – simply rejoicing in who He is. As I recalled our past together, I became overwhelmed with gratitude for His constant compassion, mercies, forgiveness, provision, protection, – the sheer power and comfort of His constant presence – my prayers of thanksgiving fell far short of what I feel and of what I know to be true.

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men.” (Psalm 107:21)

This led me to prayers of confession as again I realized “He does not treat me as my sins deserve.” I prayed David’s prayer – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. . . . Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. . . . Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.” (Psalm 51:7-10)

Praise, thanksgiving, confession – then intercession. So many people came to mind who I wanted to pray for as I walked freely about in my outdoor prayer closet.

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18)

Today, I am reminded that prayer is so much more than my personal petitions before God. Part, actually much, of my time in the prayer closet, I would do well to “be still and know that He is God.” I would do well to cease my endless petitioning and to listen instead for the still, small voice which is His alone.

“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28)

“The Sovereign Lord . . . wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.” (Isaiah 50:4-5)

As I walked in solitary silence, just my Heavenly Father and I sharing the early morning together, I felt His assurance that He would be with me as I faced whatever this day’s challenges turned out to be. It was time for me to leave my prayer closet – this sacred space I shared with my Creator.

However, I entered almost immediately into another of my many prayer closets – probably my least favorite, but one I spend a lot of time in, nonetheless. I am talking about my car. I had somewhere to be, so I entered into the prayer closet that is my car. With the radio off, God and I were able to continue our conversation. I think of my car as a prayer closet on wheels – a portable, private sanctuary if you will.

Then there’s the time I spend on my bike, which is another of my prayer closets, there’s the shower, the kitchen sink, my favorite chair, actually my whole house now that I live alone, is one big prayer closet. Anyplace can be a prayer closet, anyplace can be holy ground, anyplace can be that burning bush where we meet with God. Anyplace where we decide to enter in to that private, sacred time alone with our Creator is our prayer closet.

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You.” (Psalm 139:7-12)

God is omnipresent. As the Psalm says, there is no where I could go that He is not right there with me. Consequently, the world is my prayer closet. Alone in a crowded airport, I can pray. In my classroom, I can pray silently. (God has really good hearing) God’s creation recognizes that all the earth is a prayer closet for those whom God has created.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4)

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of prayer. Thank You, that all the earth’s a prayer closet, filled with Your presence. You are never more than a prayer away.

“For in Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)

sincerely, Grace Day