I have a friend who really has a prayer closet. A small space with a lamp, and a table for her bible. She spends much time there with the Lord. A prayer closet can be anywhere we make it. It can be a day out in the woods, in the car, our bedroom, on the back deck, hanging out laundry, doing the dishes, or just curled up on the couch. It doesn't really matter just where are prayer rrom is, as long as we have one. As long as we have a special place where we are alone, and we can open our hearts to Christ, lift up our prayers to Him, give Him our hurts and burdens laying them at His feet, and spending time listening to Him. Having a prayer closet is a blessing, its a great blessing to make a time in our days to give only to God. To let the tears flow, to let the heart open wide, and to be willing to hear His rebuke also. We don't just have a God to go to and do all the talking, there are many times we just need to listen. Some people have a prayer box, a box that you write all your prayer requests in, pray over them, and place them in the box, knowing God will take care of all. Some wear prayer necklaces, they too are a little box, it opens and you can place your prayers in it, or you can just wear it as a reminder to take time to pray. Some like to pray with the radio on, and some pray in just silence. We must stop making excuses to spend time with Christ. We seem to have every excuse possible. What if while Christ was doing His ministry, He just came up with excuses to not heal people, to not teach people, or spend time with them? He could have had a great excuse before He crawled upon the cross. He could have just said,"I really don't want to die for all these ungrateful people. He could have told people,"I just don't have time for you." Did He ever come up with an excuse? No, He didn't, but just how many has He heard from us? I have too much to do to spend time today, I'll make up extra time tomorrow, when tomorrow is forgotten also. I can't go to church today, I have a full day, and I just want to lay and rest, watching television. Sunday school, who has time for that? As long as I am going to church that is good enough for me. Can you picture Jesus as He hears all the excuses we bring to Him? We place so much over the time we spend with Him. I am a firm believer that when those church doors are open we should be there. Sadly, I too can find excuses for not going to church at night, for not reading my bible as much as I should, and not spending enough time with Christ. We can always find time to go to Him when we have a need, but what about having a relationship with Him? I can find time to speak to all my friends in a day, I can find time to do just about whatever I want, but what about finding out what God has for me? What about learning and growing with Him? Can we really do that if we too consumed with our own needs? In our twenty-four hour day, how much time do we give to Him? We are busy with what we want to be busy with, no excuses. We can say the phrases,"Time is so precious", "Time passes so quickly", and "There is not enough time in the day." Well guys, God made the time, He placed the twenty-four hours in our day, so for us to say that there isn't enough time, is mocking our Creator. We make time for what is important to us. Its funny we can stay up all night having fun, only to sleep in the next day. We can watch television, movies, or be on the phone for hours in a day, but we can't find time for our Savior. As I do spend time with Christ and reading His word, I can always be doing more. As this afternoon, I will read and catch up on my books, I should be willing to give God that same amount of time. If you don't have a prayer closet, make one. If you haven't set aside a time for Christ daily, set one. Can you just imagine what our lives would be like if we really gave our time to Christ? In the days past, people would gather only to spend hours standing up listening to the Word. If you went and tried to have those in church today stand for hours, they would be in shock, complaining. Some cannot wait to get out of church to get on with their day. That is the wrong attitude to have. There should not be a time limit on God. If He is speaking, if He is moving, if He is touching those around you, forget about the clock, the roast, or the game, and just worship in Him and praise His glorious name. He has gone beyond all for us. He has given all for us. When we have freedom in Christ, we have everything we need. May today we begin to make our prayer closet, to set a time, to begin a new course. If we proclaim Christ, then our lives should show Him through each step we take. "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." James 5:13-16
