The Place of Prayer 4

The Samaritan woman essentially asked Jesus, ‘Where should we pray? Our fathers (Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Solomon) worshiped and prayed on this mountain, and you (Jews) say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.’ Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you shall neither worship the Father in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem. For the time is coming- it actually is now- when those who worship God will worship Him in spirit and in truth; when where you are from or where you go to worship and pray do not matter.’

John 4:20-21,23

This is the generation of men who worship God in spirit and in truth; who approach God and pray not necessarily on traditional mountains or church buildings and temples. This is the generation of women whose hearts are connected with God, whose spirits commune with God anywhere, any place.

We are to pray without ceasing; and so, the place of prayer is of universal nature. Everywhere. 1 Timothy 2:8 says, “Therefore, I desire that men pray everywhere...” In the loo, on the bus, on the train, in the subway, in the car, on the plane, on the scooter, in the keke NAPEP tricycle, in the shower, in the kitchen, in the study, in the mall, in the examination hall, in the banking hall, in the parlour, in the skating rink, on the football pitch, in the hotel lobby...everywhere. There is no place on earth from which you can not reach heaven in prayer. Whether in Saudi Arabia or Uzbekistan, China or Syria, Cuba or Iran, North Korea or Gambia, God wants to hear and answer you and me. In many places, we may not be able to pray out loud or above our breath, but when it comes to the place of prayer everywhere and anywhere is game. Still, find a regular place from which to consistently practice the discipline of prayer.

I can be in a crowd, or by myself

Or almost anywhere;

When I feel, there’s a need to talk with God

He is Emmanuel!

When I close my eyes, no darkness there,

There’s only light

 

When I get on my knees

When I get on my knees

There I am before the Lord that changes me

See, I don’t know how, but there’s power

When I’m on my knees

~Mullen, David/ Mullen Nichole/ Ochs Michael

Prayer: Father, teach me to seek you everywhere. Help me to identify a suitable private place for consistent, usual prayer. Help your church and our local assembly to give time to corporate intercession. And above all, teach me to live a life of prayer beyond the church building – a life that prays everywhere and every time.