If you were to look at the religious leaders of Jesus’ day and how they prayed, you would find a pretty poor example. Although the scribes and Pharisees were serious about prayer, they had a distorted view of what it really looked like. They placed all of their emphasis on rituals, such as the right combination of words or a specific way of placing their hands. Then they turned their carefully crafted, well rehearsed prayers into a public spectacle, where others were sure to see and hear them. I think it’s safe to say that their outward displays of piety would have made most of us feel like our own simple prayers weren’t good enough for God.
Jesus set that way of thinking straight. God doesn’t really care if our hands are folded or if our words are eloquently spoken.
He’s more concerned about our heart.
Also when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already.
Matthew 6:5 AMP
Jesus didn’t admonish public prayer. Isaac prayed in a field. Peter prayed on a housetop. And Jesus himself prayed on a mountain. Rather, He was rebuking the practice of praying with the wrong motive. The scribes and Pharisees methods were done out of arrogant pride, for the praise of men, rather than seeking the ear of God.
This. is. my. War Room.
Yup.
That place above is a small little spot in my bedroom, on the side my bed, where I get on the floor and pray. Sometimes I sit while I meet with God, and other times I’m flat on my face; it really just depends on what is driving me to my knees. In this tiny space, I keep a Bible, a devotion book, my prayer shawl, some sticky notes, a journal for writing out my prayers, and a pen. Oh, and the reason for that roll of packing tape? Sometimes those sticky notes on the wall need a little extra stick.
My private little prayer corner is humble, but it has it’s rewards. I’m seldom disturbed here and I can avoid most distractions. This meeting place with God is a far cry from Miss Clara’s sweet little closet, but this place is mine, and it’s where I most often find myself able to step into God’s innermost chamber and experience the peace and power I find in prayer.
The preview for War Room took me back to a time when this was my hiding place.
It was a time when I needed to evaluate my spiritual condition before God repeatedly.
When I needed to declare victory over the Enemy.
When I needed to understand my true identity in my Savior.
Is today any different?
Not at all.
The truth is, I need my War Room today just as much as I did then, if not more.
I don’t want to wait until myfaith is tested to make time to pray. I don’t want to fall into the trap of spiritual lukewarmness and I don’t want to wait until the Enemy makes himself known to mount up for battle.
I want to be vigilant, don’t you?
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