Comments on: Prayer Closets

By: closets

closets — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:15:41 +0000

A sacred space makes a statement about the priority of God in your life. People spend thousands of dollars on entertainment systems and even dedicate whole rooms just to watching television. Or, they spend thousands of dollars creating formal dining rooms to cater to guests and their families on special occasions. These space choices say something about their priorities. You don't want to create a space in your home specifically for the purpose of drawing attention to your prayers and study. But, if you do create a space because it is important to you, it becomes a silent witness to what the priorities are in your life. Years ago, I was an associate director of a summer youth program and I used a prayer room at the church every morning. I would arrive early to do my morning bible reading. I never really said anything about it to the kids. Over time though they caught on to what I was doing and it wasn't unusual for me to get done with my bible reading and find someone who wanted to speak to me respectfully waiting outside the door. Entering the prayer closet model my priorities as a witness for others. Great post!

By: coldx851

coldx851 — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 04:50:36 +0000

And also, I do that too. I am really quiet when I am by myself, unless I am practicing Spanish or doing some serious logic.

By: coldx851

coldx851 — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 04:49:36 +0000

I believe it is not the focus that God really cares about, but that you are actually talking to him. If you go ADD alot, so what, he made you that way. It is you that he wants to hear, and that is what I try to give him. I always just reference form prayers, since he knows what I am going to say, and therefore I need not say it. Plus, I hate being status Quo- lest I am at everything.

By: Berle Georege

Berle Georege — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:25:42 +0000

My bed and my bathtub are my prayer closets, every morning I lie down to soak in my tub and I pray, and at night when I lie down in my bed I pray, I also pray when driving.. Thanks for your message, Berle

By: Julia

Julia — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:31:06 +0000

Personally I am a frequent user of the "prayer balcony".
Some time ago this spring I discovered that one of the smaller staff rooms on campus had a balcony. In case you can call it that. There's just enough space to fit a small chair, an even smaller table and one (dead) potted plant (keeps getting renewed by someone, but it still dies every 2 months or so). I have to add that this plant is a serious distraction, firstly because the pot is so unbelievably ugly that I'm not surprised every living thing in it dies. Secondly, it's really distracting when you're in the middle of giving praise to God, for e.g.: his amazing creation, but when you open your eyes you see That thing.

But Anyway, apart from the occasional smoker I'm the only person who seems to know about this oasis of peace, as it faces a courtyard nobody ever uses.
I was fine using it up to just recently but as temperatures have dropped to the low 20s (and Winter's just started) I'm now faced with the decision to either get rid of the plant (which apparently has a fanbase, as it is renewed ever so often) and put one of those outside radiators in its place, or search for a new prayer "closet"…
I wonder whether the plant people will still put a new one there if the plant has, let's say "an accident" of the gravitational kind…not even that ugly pot should withstand a fall from the 2nd floor!!

By: Mandi

Mandi — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:05:54 +0000

I pray/walk to the metro station, then pray on the metro, so could that be the 'prayer blue/orange and yellow line?' Extra helpful before starting my work day – getting to work as the sun comes up while riding over the Potomac.

By: Tina

Tina — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:56:48 +0000

I kick it old school, kneeling on the side of my bed and I try my hardest not to fall asleep. That’s the challenge. The prayer car doesn’t work for me. How can you concentrate when you hear “Momma, Momma, Momma” for 10 minutes???

By: Debbie

Debbie — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:55:52 +0000

Celevator, I love it. Rathher approps actually; an elevator that frequently stops working quickly becomes an unintended cell. Personal experience. So stay strong and stick to your C’s!

By: @heath8041

@heath8041 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:04:31 +0000

(Part 3 of 3) It also allows everyone to pray in "secret" even while standing together in great multitudes at the temple or other gathering spot. I doubt any of the Lord's disciples were rich enough to build another room on their house with the sole purpose of praying. Almost everyone can afford and outer garment. Peter is praying on the roof of his house in Acts when he see his vision about the unclean animals in the sheet. Perhaps he was really in his "Prayer Closet" because he had his tallacim pulled up over his head to keep from being distracted. I hope this helps shed some light on the idea. If nothing else, hopefully it'll keep you from spending a bunch of money on something you don't need ("A fool and his money are soon parted") So just throw a towel over your head. You'll probably look foolish but hey, according to Jesus your heavenly father will reward you openly.

By: @heath8041

@heath8041 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:04:12 +0000

(Part 2 of 3) It was considered inappropriate to go out in public and especially in religious places without your outer garment. This was basically a large rectangular cloth that had four corners on it. God told them to put the tzit tzit (tassels with knots) on the corners of this garment. see Num 15:37-40. So what they would do is just use that large outer garment and pull it up and over there heads when they wanted to cover their head. That's like entering your "closet". When you want to be no be disturbed you just kind of close the front hole you've created with your hands. That's equivalent to "Shutting the door" So they could pray without being visually distracted by everything going on around them. (Continued…)