How to Build a Prayer Closet No Tools Required by Jo Scheidt At first, it was great. I regularly went, once a day, to meet with God in prayer. I would go down through my prayer list and spend time on each one. It was a great idea—for about 3 days!
Have you ever wondered where in your house you would create a prayer closet? First, what is a “prayer closet?” It is basically a dedicated space you would meet with God in prayer every day, week, etc. When you figure out where you feel the most comfortable talking with God, where it is the most natural, that is your prayer closet. After watching the movie War Room, I dreamed of pinning prayer requests on my prayer closet wall and checking off prayers that God answered, monitoring the progress. I thought meeting with God in a place like that would give me stability in my prayer life. I would be consistent and look forward to meeting there. The area would become special sacred. So, I set off to “build” my own space. It was actually in my bedroom walk-in closet toward the back where there was a little nook. It was a perfect-sized spot! I set up my 3x5 cards and taped prayer requests, and some notable quotes I wanted to read repeatedly on the wall. I added a chair, Bible, pen, tissues (all the things you would like to have nearby when spending time with God).
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The problem was that it was a foreign area that needed to be broken in and used well. It would take time before that spot would feel like “home” to my prayer life. What I came to realize is that I already had a prayer closet all along! It wasn’t in my house. It wasn’t in my church (though I had a special place to meet with God there, too). It was in my CAR! My car was my prayer closet! I came to realize that it was my driver’s seat that cradled me while I prayed. My steering wheel was well-oiled from prayerful hands. The walls of my vehicle knew the presence of God. My car went with me to parks, parking lots of churches, and out of the way places that I parked and prayed. It carried my journal, tissues, pens, highlighters, Bibles, books, snacks, jackets, purses, changes of shoes or clothes, phone, glasses/sunglasses, and Burt’s Bees lip balm! If it got cold or hot, I could turn my car on and adjust the air temperature. Call me crazy. When you figure out where you feel the most comfortable talking with God - where it’s the most natural, THAT’s your prayer closet. You don’t have to set up some formal area in or away from your home. You CAN, obviously, and thrive there if that’s what you like. But my point is you can think outside of the box. Scan through your day and try to identify where and when you spend the most time just chatting with God. It could be while you’re doing the dishes. It could be while cooking or folding laundry. It could be while going on your daily walk, run, or commute to and from work. Some people have a favorite chair. It’s different for everyone.
