Setting aside a section of my closet for my morning devotions & prayer time with the Lord has been amazing for my faith walk (my husband’s too).

What is a Prayer Closet?

To back up just a bit, let’s talk about what a Christian prayer closet or “war room” is. It is a dedicated space where a follower of Christ is intentional and undistracted while in prayer, communing with God through the Holy Spirit, and/or reading His word. I have seen prayer closets become increasingly popular in recent years and if I had to guess, it’s probably since that Kendrick’s Brothers movie “War Room” that came out in 2015 (love all of their movies & highly recommend!). Another aspect is being aware of the enemy & his forces (Ephesians 6:12) and combating them spiritually through prayer. James 5:16 tells us “A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much.” Don’t underestimate the power of prayer!

Why should I create a prayer closet?

For a scriptural reference, Matthew 6:6 says this:

“⁶ But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.“

The NASB above translates the Greek word “tameion” (pronounced tam-i’-on) as “inner room”. The word means “closet, secret chamber, or storehouse.” Point being, it’s a place for you & God to meet: some place quiet, where you bring your praise & reverence. This finds favor with God, which is always a good thing!

To be clear, you can (and should) talk to God whenever & wherever as much as possible on a daily basis. This is what it means to be in true fellowship with God (1 Thessalonians 5:15-18, Ephesians 6:18-20). Sisters, we aren’t to call on God only when we need help. If we truly love Jesus & made Him Lord of our lives & our hearts, we desire to please Him, emulate Him, strengthen our trust in Him, and listen attentively for Him. We cannot say we really know Him if we do not prioritize Him in our daily lives or spend next to no time with Him. I say this with love & not with condemnation and just want to convey to you its importance.

Personally, starting my day in the prayer closet helps me to get into the right headspace for the day ahead. I do not know what awaits, but the Lord does. So, in giving the first minutes of my day to Him, I’m already starting off on the right foot. 

I understand we all are busy and our busy lives can stress us out. But let’s not give the enemy an in to prey on our fears, insecurities, or stressors. 

Ephesians 6:10-18 comes to mind:

^“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And 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.”

Think about it: what soldier goes into battle unequipped? Better yet, what solider goes into battle unequipped, expecting to return unscathed? 

Hey, don’t get the wrong idea. I’m certainly not perfect!

There are days when I’ll hit that snooze button 5+ times and rush to get ready when I get up. Those days, I don’t spend time in the prayer closet or something will happen later in the day that I wasn’t prepared for, and I’ll have to go in to get my bearings & reconnect with God. On the days when I skip, I find I’m more likely to be irritable, impatient, less focused, less productive, more anxious, & more reactionary if something goes wrong or makes me feel angry, sad, etc. I’m just being honest here. I know the fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). So, if I’m lacking in them, the very first question I ask myself is: have I been sowing to the spirit? Galatians 6:7-9 is a great encouragement here:

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.”

I was more than happy to carve a space out in my home where I could continually thank God for all He has done for me, cast my cares & burdens on Him, and approach Him with confidence that He’s a good God, He loves me, & whatever I’m going through is ultimately for my good and His glory (Romans 8:28).

What are the top reasons to make space for a prayer closet?

To summarize, here are the top reasons why you should invest in a prayer closet or, if finances or space are limited, to at least choose a place where you can be alone with God. Seriously, that could be your car, a park bench, the shower or bathtub. The beauty of it is that God will meet you where you are at! 

1. Finds favor with God because you are being intentional about prioritizing Him
2. Allows you to eliminate stressors & distractions so you can listen attentively for God’s direction
3. Strengthens your relationship & reliance on God
4. Encourages you to equip your spiritual armor daily
5. Promotes gratitude for God’s character, promises, & faithfulness
6. Allows you to read scripture undisturbed, which will help you increase in knowledge & wisdom
7. Remember people & their needs in prayer and share yours as well

And I’m sure there is so much more that could be added to this list.