prayer- Our Prayer Closet

Our Prayer Closet

 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:5-8). 

The Greek word for “room” is tameion, which means "an inner storage chamber or a secret room."  This is a place for quiet prayer to God from you, verses public prayer which has its place and time but still gives way for attention placed on who is praying and those gathered around.  Both are good but really, who wants all their conversations with someone out in the public. Some things need to stay private for a time.

Some people set aside a room that they furnish, with a comfortable chair, table, Bible, and maybe a notebook, and use that for a regular quiet prayer time. That’s certainly appropriate, but a “prayer closet” might be a daily commute, in the back yard, bench at the park or the kitchen table. I have even heard of the mother that is said to have sat in a chair and thrown her apron over her head as a sign to her kids to leave her alone. Even Jesus went to a secluded hillside/garden to pray. Our “closet” is free from interruption, distraction, and listening ears. 

-Sandy Hentzel, Diva Sisters