I remember when I wasn’t very familiar with Christian language. So, when I first heard someone say they were going to the “Prayer Room”, my interest was thoroughly sparked. My curiosity eventually led me to search Google for “Christian Prayer Rooms” and I had to ask others around me, what is a Christian Prayer Room?
What is a Christian Prayer Room? A Christian Prayer Room is a designated place with the sole intention of connecting with God through prayer. It is a place limited by distractions and set apart within a home or community. The prayer room can be used individually, for a family, or within the Church body.
It turns out, I think I could have guessed what a Christian Prayer Room was, but I still had so many questions. Here’s what I found.
Why Christians Use Prayer Rooms
In today’s very busy world, it makes sense why we would need a designated prayer space. It can be hard enough to focus on one thing at a time in our normal environment. We can easily be distracted by our “to do” lists, phones, work, chores and other distractions of this world. But Jesus calls us to look past this world, and to set our gaze upon Him in Scripture.
Scripture calls us to: “set our minds on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). A prayer room is designated solely to pray, with no distractions from the things of this world. For this reason, a prayer room is beneficial to a healthy Christian’s prayer life.
As a Christian, I find a prayer room almost necessary for my prayer life. I use a prayer room because I find that I can focus more intently on the Lord. When I am not intentional during my prayer time, my prayer proves to be less impactful in my spiritual walk. Helpful reminders in the room, such as a cross or worship music causes me to connect more deeply with the Lord. So, I use a prayer room for a place where no one will bother me, and a space that I can focus intently on the Lord.
When are Christian Prayer Rooms Used?
Christian prayers rooms are used when a group or an individual decides that a prayer room would be beneficial. They may decide that a prayer room is beneficial because they want to deepen their spiritual lives, because they want to focus more on prayer, or because they want a space for people to start praying together. The reasons can vary greatly, but the end result is a place of designated prayer.
Prayer Rooms can be especially helpful when you feel the need for a quiet place to pray. If you have trouble focusing in a regular room on prayer, or even in a church sanctuary, then a prayer room would be perfect for you. If you have a prayer room, typically people respect your time while in the prayer room, and will not interrupt you, which is also a reason when prayer rooms are used.
Reasons Prayer Rooms are Used:
- To deepen one’s prayer life
- To focus solely on prayer
- To be alone during prayer
- For groups to have a space to pray
- For a space to pray for an individual for physical, emotional, or spiritual healing
Prayer Rooms are a Biblical Idea
Jesus says this, “But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6).
Let’s look at this a little more closely. Jesus says to pray in a private room. This sounds an awful lot like a prayer room. He said to shut your door and pray to your Father in secret. Jesus is creating a sense of intimacy around this private prayer. He is telling us to create a space for us and the Father Himself, without any distractions.
When we pray in secret, and not on the street corners like the Pharisees (Matthew 6:5), we are choosing God before man. Jesus says that the Father rewards the prayers of those who seek Him secretly, and a prayer room is a perfect place to uphold this private place that Jesus points out.
How This Impact Your Prayer Life
Jesus was the model of a perfect relationship with the Father in Heaven. So if He often went in private to pray, then we should also expect to grow deeper in our relationship with the Father if we do so. God, the Father, is a relational God and He wants us to seek Him intimately and fervently. He will honor our commitment to prayer and reward us because this is the promise of Jesus in Scripture (Matthew 6:6).
A prayer room creates a space and an avenue in the world to be intentional with the Lord. Prayer is a crucial practice for the followers of Jesus. We must seek His heart, have a relationship with Him, and pray for Him to move. A prayer room makes this easier. Scripture says that “Yet he [ Jesus ] often withdrew to deserted places and prayed” (Luke 5:16). If we desire to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, we see the benefit of a prayer room. Because a prayer room helps us do what He did, to withdraw and pray.
Finding a Christian Prayer Room
I have seen prayer rooms in many unique places. However, the most commonly found prayer rooms are in homes, churches, and Christian ministry establishments. These ministry establishments could be found in Christian colleges, places of discipleship, or places dedicated to prayer ministry.
A Prayer Room in the Home
If you can find a place for designated prayer in your home, then you can create a prayer room. Keep in mind that larger families may need a larger prayer room, while a couple may just need a small one. It is most ideal if you have a whole room that can be solely designated to prayers, such as a spare bedroom or unused office. People will even use closets to create a prayer “room”. If your goal is to be alone in prayer, then it gets the job done.
A Prayer Room in the Church
Many churches will have prayer rooms. Usually, this is a quiet place in the church, separate from the sanctuary. Church members can go here throughout the week to connect with the Lord, or even during the weekly church service. Also, the church leaders can pray for members of the church in the prayer room. It is an intimate space to pray for others personally, whether it be for spiritual, emotional, or physical healing.
A Prayer Room in Ministries
In Christian universities, colleges, and ministries, prayer rooms are a helpful tool for the entire community. A prayer room is very useful for encouraging a deep prayer life, which is important in places such as these. Usually, in a larger community, larger prayer rooms are more common and appropriate. The larger the prayer room is, the more people can communally pray together, which is powerful. Prayer in numbers can help the community capture a vision together for what God is doing for the entire establishment. Of course, individual prayer can happen in these prayer rooms as well.
Now that we understand Christian Prayer Rooms more clearly, please make use of one. Go out and find one in your local church community, or make your own. Prayer rooms are so beneficial for your personal walk with the Lord and for entire church bodies alike.
