Where’s Your Prayer Closet?

I am a mom who is simply doing my best and letting God take the rest. I have an about to be three year old, a one year old, and I am due with our third baby girl in November. I remember hearing from people at the beginning of our faith journey a few years ago “you need a prayer closet”.  When I brought this up to my husband, we were both so fresh in our faith it didn’t make sense why we needed somewhere private with the Lord. When we got to digging, we found Matthew 6: 5-6;

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” 

If you have never heard of a prayer closet, it is somewhere you can go and have intimate prayer time with the Lord. Oftentimes, people will use an office space, or even just a small hall closet and completely transform it to be somewhere they can be comfortable, feel safe, and have that one on one time with Jesus where they can escape the noise and distractions to be fully present with Him. The Bible talks about the importance of prayer time throughout both the Old Testament and New Testament, but one verse that so many know and grow to love is Philippians 4:6;

 “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.” 

In my case, escaping what feels like the zoo seemed nearly impossible. I was a ‘baby believer’ and carved time out after bedtime where and when I could, to spend time with the Lord. As my faith grew more hungry, I began to notice I did in fact need a prayer closet. But, I had absolutely no room in my house for this. The way I hoard Christmas decorations alone took up the basement, every closet filled to the brim with clothes and other things that we were so blessed to have, it wasn’t something that was in the cards for us. Our house by no means was small but it was not a mansion either. I felt this pressure to provide us a sacred space we could have time with the Lord in. 

Then I got to thinking- my entire home should be this space, not just one small area. The Lord will see my efforts in meaningful, deep prayer. When we’re ready to move (we were getting ready to list our home within the coming year), He will bless us with more space after watching me steward the home He had already provided us. Isaiah 32:18 touches briefly on a Christ like home, it reads “My people will live in safety, quietly at home. They will be at REST.” When I read this a few years ago, Jesus truly spoke life into me. He reminded me that you cannot only practice your faith on Sunday’s, He should be in your home too. He should be everywhere you walk, but especially in the four walls of your home. The Lord should feel present consistently. 

I soon decided to make a schedule for myself as to when I would get in my Bible. My daily goal may seem like a lot to some, or maybe not enough to others, but for the season that I am in, I believe it works well for me! And if I can help at least one (probably a parent of littles) reading this find a good system, my entire reason for writing this has God’s hand, and what an honor that is! I am just a vessel in spreading God’s light. My daily Bible & Prayer time consists of at the breakfast table with my children in the morning, during nap time on my couch, and after the kids go to bed, in my bed. Of course, there are different times we have to swap these times because of the babies, but ideally, this is what it looks like! A candle lit next to me, a yummy drink in hand, and pure quality time with Jesus learning and growing with each page turned.

Now that you know where my prayer closets are, where are yours? (But actually, tell me at church on Sunday, I want to know!)