Now that we’ve settled that, let’s talk about where to have your prayer time. When you think about meeting God for a time of prayer, what does that look like to you? (If you’re tempted to use Ward Cleaver’s study, I’m sorry but it’s already occupied.) Is there a specific room or area that invites you in?
More than any other consideration, you need to find a place with the least amount of distractions. If the bed feels too conducive to sleep, you need to go elsewhere. If the kitchen table in your home rivals Times Square on New Year’s Eve, you might want to scratch it off your list. If the TV in your family room proves to be too tempting, then flee its unholy clutches! Run, baby, run!
I’m ashamed to tell you this, but in the spirit of full disclosure to encourage you by my many, many blunders, I shall. Even after I got into the practice of my early morning prayer times, I still had—and still have—a lot to learn. During the winter months of the year, when it’s too cold to sit out on my back porch, I curl up on our sofa in the family room. I normally have my coffee and breakfast first in an attempt to be fully awake and cognizant before attempting to pray. I figured God wasn’t too thrilled with me nodding off all the time. What better way to get cognizant than to watch the news while munching on my granola, right? Problem is, I’d get sucked in by the teasers of upcoming news stories. Teasers by their very nature are intended to string you along and keep you watching.
So I’d pour another cup of coffee, put the news on mute, go ahead and open my prayer journal, and start praying. Yeah. Like that honors God. I don’t know who I thought I was fooling by keeping one eye on the TV and the other on my journal, but there it is. The true, uncensored confessions of a prayer slacker. Eventually I came to my senses, set up a specific time frame, and turned off the TV before praying. See? I’m maturing. Really. I am.
More than likely I wouldn’t have shared that embarrassing morsel of failure except that I’m sure that you, my friend, have also had some crazy prayer adventures of your own. Like trying to pray while you drive to work with the radio on. Syndicated radio talk show hosts Rick and Bubba are a scream and completely open about their faith in Christ, but they don’t demand your undivided attention like God does, now do they?
Seriously, stop and think about where to meet with your Father. Whether it’s an easy chair by the fireplace, a comfortable nook in your bedroom, or a patio table out on the deck, make it yours. Make it special so that each time you pass by, you’re reminded that this is where you meet with God.
My sister heard about a suggestion to set aside a special chair for God when you meet with Him. She used to have her morning prayer time in a leather armchair in her guest bedroom. Now she sits on the bed, leaving that leather chair empty to remind her that she’s there to meet with her Lord and Savior. She told me how much more personal and meaningful her prayer times have become as she thinks of Him sitting there before her. Interesting idea, don’t you think?
After graduation from seminary, my husband was called to serve as minister of youth and education on a church staff in Naples, Florida. We loved our pastor, Max Cadenhead, and Ken felt blessed and honored to serve with him. One Saturday night after returning to the church from a youth outing, we noticed the lights on in the sanctuary. We opened a back door and saw Max up on the platform, lying prostrate on his face, praying passionately to the Lord. We quietly closed the door, not wishing to intrude on his privacy; but we were overwhelmed with appreciation for this humble man of God. We later learned he spent time every Saturday night there in the sanctuary, praying for the message God had given him for Sunday and for those who would hear it. He wasn’t performing before an audience. He was on his face before God, seeking God’s wisdom in preparation for Sunday’s services.
I’m not suggesting you sneak into your church on Saturday night to pray on the platform. And by all means, leave me out of it should you do so and get arrested. What I am suggesting is for you to put some serious thought into where you will have your daily, divine appointment with God.
We’ve talked about the best time to pray. We’ve looked at options for where to pray. In our next chapter, how about we take a look at what you might need to make the most of your time with God?