“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.” Matthew 6:6
“Satan trembles when he sees the weakest Christian on his knees.” William Cowper
I love the movie War Room. The little old woman, Clara, is a powerhouse prayer warrior! She diligently removes herself to a tiny room where she has lined the walls with pictures and Scriptures to motivate her in her spiritual battle through prayer. The movie inspires me to fight the enemy with the Word of God and to persevere when my prayers aren’t answered in my timing. According to James 5:16 (NKJV), “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” From what I understand about Scripture, the most spiritually successful people were men and women of prayer. Jesus Himself constantly removed himself from the crowds to find quiet time with the Father. If Jesus, as our greatest example, found time to pray, how much more should we follow His standard to pray!
Creating a secret place to meet the Lord in prayer is how we begin to make quiet time a life-changing priority. A comfy chair or a nook reserved for your prayer closet or war room will allow you to slow down, quiet your heart, read God’s Word without interruption, hear the voice of the Lord, and pray. First, find a simple space. If you have a spare bedroom, office, or closet, use it! Tidy it and remove anything that will cause a distraction so you will be able to meditate on God, the things of God, and the work of God. You can use a chair, kneel on a comfy mat or pillow, or lie before the Lord. You will need ample wall space for Scripture, prayer reminders, clippings, and photos. You may need a lamp, depending on the location, and a Bible, pen, journal, hymnal, or music player.
If you’re like me and don’t have room in your house for a dedicated war room, another option would be to create a prayer board made from a trifold board that you can find at most office stores. I’ve added prayer cues and Scriptures to my board that move me to pray. Pinterest has been a great resource to help me tailor my board to my liking. Turn to page 181 to learn how to make a prayer board.
When opened, my board shields me from the laundry and other distractions that want to pull me away from time with God. When I am finished, it folds up and easily stores under my bed. After creating this safe haven and refuge from the world, go into your “secret place” and thank God for all His blessings and provisions. Thanksgiving gives you a humble posture for prayer. You can journal your praises and even acknowledge answered prayers. Play music that inspires to you sing songs of praise. Pick up a hymnal or sing songs you know from church. Psalm 22:3 (NLT) states, “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” Lifting your voice in worship invites the Lord to join you. Open your Bible, and before reading, ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom to understand the mysteries of His Word. Read Scripture out loud. Take notes, underline, and meditate on what the Lord has spoken to you. If you feel like trying something new, sing the words as David did in the Psalms. Don’t forget to be specific in this time of conversing with God and pray for people by name. Your quiet time will become a time of refreshment with the Lord that might even become your favorite part of the day!
With Love,
Rae Ellen
Faith-Filled Idea: Help Your Kids Spend Time with Jesus
Model this daily quiet time and teach your kids the value of spending time with Jesus. When your children see you in your prayer closet, they will know it is your secret time with Jesus and won’t interrupt (as much). Help them find a cozy corner dedicated to spending time with God for themselves, equipped with a children’s Bible, a snack, Wee Sing Bible Songs, a journal, and a pencil. You could even help them make their own prayer board. Prayer is the most important thing we can do for our children! It will impact them when we are gone. May the Lord bless you as you seek Him in your silent retreat from the world. Be ready
to see breakthroughs in your war room!
In her lifetime, she traveled the world exercising gifts of hospitality and a passion for missions. She now lives in the beautiful state of Colorado with her beloved husband Brian & busy crew.
She loves to be creative with cooking and meets friends for coffee. Rae-Ellen says,"My sweetest coffee dates are with Jesus!"
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