A place of prayer

Have you ever noticed how often scripture identifies the time and place where someone would pray?

Now I know that God hears our prayers no matter when or where we pray.  In scripture we see people prayed in houses, in closets, on mountaintops, in deserts, late at night, early in the morning, before meals, and after battles.

But I do believe that a regular place can help provide and stimulate a deeper time of prayer. Choosing a particular place can say “this is my place of prayer” and can remind us, I’m here to pray. I need to pray. God, here I am. I’m listening.

In Matthew 6:5-8, Jesus taught  “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

So what is Jesus saying to us about prayer in these verses? I feel he is saying our prayers can not be done to show off or to impress others. Now when praying is public and with others it can be a really good thing , when we do it to praise and honor God, But there is also a time when we need to find a place to just come before the Lord in private.

In my own life that place has been my porch swing, I love just siting there and talk with the Lord. I’m not sure why, but when I’m there my time with God seems all the richer. It’s a place where that I know I have set apart for God, a sacred place that I know in my heart is His. 

During my time there, I want to hear His voice. My porch swing is a  place where I tend to lay my heart bare before him, and as David did, I ask him to create a clean heart with in me. (Psalm 51:10) 

With all the busyness of life, I have also found that my mind slows down and my heart does not feel so anxious. My prayers seem to be more focused and specific. I’m not just saying empty words and phrases, This place that has been set aside for God, has changed how I pray, and I’m not sure how, but it appears that God has consecrated this place for my relationship with Him.

- Don Stubbs