Detox You Prayer Closet
We talked about the detoxification process - getting all of the toxins and contaminants out of your home. We've talked about cleaning out closets - getting organized and clean behind closed doors.
Today we're going to combine the two and take a peek in your prayer closet.
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:5-6
I pray that you have a place where you go, whether it's an actual closet or some other private place, where you can be alone with the Lord. Think of your prayer closet as that special spot away from the eyes and noise of the world. It might be a room, a chair or your bed first thing in the morning. It might be your car as you're traveling to and from work. Or it might be that beautiful garden, park or field where the only sound is your voice calling out to God.
Perhaps you've had a prayer closet for years. Perhaps it's well used, fully furnished and frequently visited. If so, praise the Lord! This means that you're devoted to spending quality time walking side-by-side with your Creator. This is a blessing that many choose not to receive, so it a special, precious choice.
This may be the time that you need to spruce your prayer closet up a bit, though. When we use something so well loved, it can become tattered and worn around the edges. We don't want the time we spend in prayer to become repetitive or burdensome, so ask the Lord to give you something new. Maybe a burden for someone, a desire to grow in some specific area or simply more love for Him. Don't allow yourself to get in a rut over something as important and lovely as prayer time.
Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Psalm 5:1-3
There is also the possibility that you've got cobwebs in your prayer closet. You used to go there all the time and commune with the Lord, but now other things have taken up your time and attention. There's dust all over your prayer life because it hasn't been a priority like it once was.
This is an easy fix - empty out your prayer closet, clean it all up and get your heart right with God. There is nothing better in this life than quality time in prayer, and you can't have that with junk in your life. Neglect is a terrible problem when it means that God comes pretty far down on the list.
Perhaps you need to find a new place or time for your prayer time. Keep your Bible next to you so you can have His Word available. He will speak volumes if you just take the time to listen. Take away all the distractions that will draw your attention away from the valuable conversation the Lord wants to have with you every day.
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily. Psalm 102:1-2
If you are a new Christian, you may not even have a prayer closet set up yet. Please don't take this special place for granted - separate yourself from the noise of the world, even your family, just for a while. Set up a spot somewhere in the house where you can be alone. Gather your Bible, your favorite devotional books and your prayer journal. Make it a pretty place just for you, a place that makes you happy and calm and ready to talk with God.
My prayer closet has not been bathed in prayer the way I'd like lately. I pray we will all make this conversation a joy in our lives and the clean condition of our prayer closet a priority of our hearts.
Today we're going to combine the two and take a peek in your prayer closet.
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:5-6
I pray that you have a place where you go, whether it's an actual closet or some other private place, where you can be alone with the Lord. Think of your prayer closet as that special spot away from the eyes and noise of the world. It might be a room, a chair or your bed first thing in the morning. It might be your car as you're traveling to and from work. Or it might be that beautiful garden, park or field where the only sound is your voice calling out to God.
Perhaps you've had a prayer closet for years. Perhaps it's well used, fully furnished and frequently visited. If so, praise the Lord! This means that you're devoted to spending quality time walking side-by-side with your Creator. This is a blessing that many choose not to receive, so it a special, precious choice.
This may be the time that you need to spruce your prayer closet up a bit, though. When we use something so well loved, it can become tattered and worn around the edges. We don't want the time we spend in prayer to become repetitive or burdensome, so ask the Lord to give you something new. Maybe a burden for someone, a desire to grow in some specific area or simply more love for Him. Don't allow yourself to get in a rut over something as important and lovely as prayer time.
Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Psalm 5:1-3
There is also the possibility that you've got cobwebs in your prayer closet. You used to go there all the time and commune with the Lord, but now other things have taken up your time and attention. There's dust all over your prayer life because it hasn't been a priority like it once was.
This is an easy fix - empty out your prayer closet, clean it all up and get your heart right with God. There is nothing better in this life than quality time in prayer, and you can't have that with junk in your life. Neglect is a terrible problem when it means that God comes pretty far down on the list.
Perhaps you need to find a new place or time for your prayer time. Keep your Bible next to you so you can have His Word available. He will speak volumes if you just take the time to listen. Take away all the distractions that will draw your attention away from the valuable conversation the Lord wants to have with you every day.
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily. Psalm 102:1-2
If you are a new Christian, you may not even have a prayer closet set up yet. Please don't take this special place for granted - separate yourself from the noise of the world, even your family, just for a while. Set up a spot somewhere in the house where you can be alone. Gather your Bible, your favorite devotional books and your prayer journal. Make it a pretty place just for you, a place that makes you happy and calm and ready to talk with God.
My prayer closet has not been bathed in prayer the way I'd like lately. I pray we will all make this conversation a joy in our lives and the clean condition of our prayer closet a priority of our hearts.
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