Thought for the Day – The Prayer Closet
I’m rereading The Autobiography of George Muller. It has always been one of my favorite books. He was rightly called a man of faith. He never believed in asking anyone for anything. He believed he should take his needs to God and God alone knowing that He would provide for him. And God did. Definitely a must read.
I came across a passage from his diary that was a very signficant part of his walk with God that I wanted to share here.
“I must offer a word of warning to believers. Often the work of the Lord itself may tempt us away from communion with Him. A full schedule of preaching, counseling, and travel can erode the strength of the mightiest servant of the Lord. Public prayer will never make up for closet communion.”
Wow. It’s no wonder the man had such faith in God. He didn’t just talk of him. He didn’t just serve Him. But he fellowshipped with Him. He had communion with Him. He spent time with Him.
He knew that even doing the Lord’s work would draw him away from communion with God.
This made me think of my own life. My life is filled with so many temporal things that I can easily get lost in the busyness of it all. The next thing you know I am asking a blessing over my meals and uttering a brief prayer before I fall asleep at night. I do not think that is what George Muller means when he talks of “closet communion”.
It reminds me more of an Enoch type connection with God.
Genesis 5:24 (English Standard Version)
24Enoch(A) walked with God, and he was not,[a](B) for God took him.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary goes on to describe this special relationship:
Enoch.
Enoch was the seventh from Adam. Godliness is walking with God: which shows reconciliation to God, for two cannot walk together except they be agreed, Am 3:3. It includes all the parts of a godly, righteous, and sober life. To walk with God, is to set God always before us, to act as always under his eye. It is constantly to care, in all things to please God, and in nothing to offend him. It is to be followers of him as dear children. The Holy
Spirit, instead of saying, Enoch lived, says, Enoch walked with God. This was his constant care and work; while others lived to themselves and the world, he lived to God. It was the joy of his life. Enoch was removed to a better world. As he did not live like the rest of mankind, so he did not leave the world by death as they did. He was not found, because God had translated him, Heb 11:5. He had lived but 365 years, which, as men’s ages were then, was but the midst of a man’s days. God often takes those soonest whom he loves best; the time they lose on earth, is gained in heaven, to their unspeakable advantage. See how Enoch’s removal is expressed: he was not, for God took him. He was not any longer in this world; he was changed, as the saints shall be, who are alive at Christ’s second coming. Those who begin to walk with God when young, may expect to walk with him long, comfortably, and usefully. The true christian’s steady walk in holiness, through many a year, till God takes him, will best recommend that religion which many oppose and many abuse. And walking with God well agrees with the cares, comforts, and duties of life. (Ge 5:25-32)
Long before I looked this up in a commentary, I was struck by the significance of this special relationship between God and Enoch.
Or more of a Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Even Jesus went into His prayer closet.
Matthew 30: 36-39 (NIV)
36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
1 Thessalonians 5 (English Standard Version)
16(Z) Rejoice always, 17(AA) pray without ceasing, 18(AB) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
