WHERE SHOULD WE PRAY?
When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Matthew 6:6
Where were you the last time you prayed? Was it on your bed this morning? On your way to work? Before your latest meal? Or was it when you couldn’t find your keys? A wonderful thing about prayer is that you can do it anywhere and anytime. If we look in the Bible, we discover some rather unusual places people prayed.
Daniel prayed in front of his open window. Moses prayed on top of a mountain. Jonah prayed from inside a fish. Joshua prayed on a battlefield. Hannah prayed while in the house of the Lord. Hezekiah prayed lying on his deathbed. We know Peter prayed when he was sinking into a lake. Paul and Silas prayed in a jail cell. There was also Stephen, who prayed as he was being stoned, and Samson, who prayed while he was chained to a building. We could continue with Elisha, Elijah, David, and Abraham. Knowing that the Lord is always ready to listen to the heartfelt prayers of his children, it makes no difference where or what the circumstances are when we pray. Whether in a boat fishing, changing a diaper, or standing before a firing squad, God has promised to hear our prayers.
But didn’t Jesus tell us to go into our rooms to pray? Another beauty of prayer is that it can be intentional or spontaneous. Daniel intentionally knelt before his window each day for prayer. Intentional prayers are worthwhile because they give us an opportunity to organize our thoughts. Morning, evening, and mealtime prayers could be intentional prayers.
Spontaneous prayers are also worthwhile and necessary. The prayers of Jonah, Peter and Joshua were spontaneous prayers that were spoken because the moment called for them.
What a blessing it is to know that God sets no rules or boundaries for our prayers. His greatest wish is to hear us calling on him to share our cares. Whether spontaneous or intentional, we should use this blessing often and everywhere. Ephesians 6:18 says, “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 Lord’s people.”
Find a quiet place today to spend with the Lord in prayer.
From The Gift of Prayer