Prayer Rocks & Quiet Rooms
Written By: Paige Wassel
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
When I was a child, someone gave me a prayer rock. Wrapped in a piece of red fabric, the rock had a paper poem tied to it with rhyming instructions on its use:
“I’m your little prayer rock and this is what I’ll do. Just put me on your pillow ’til the day is through. Then turn back the covers and climb into your bed, and, whack! Your little prayer rock will bump you on the head. Then you will remember as the day is through, to kneel and say your prayers as you intended to.
Then when you are finished dump me on the floor. I’ll stay there through the nighttime to give you help once more. When you get up next morning, clunk! I stub your toe, so that you will remember your prayers before you go.
Put me back upon your pillow when your bed is made, and your clever little prayer rock will continue in your aid. Because your Heavenly Father cares and loves you so, He wants you to remember to talk to Him, you know.”
Through somewhat silly (and occasionally painful), this prayer rock encouraged me to begin and end each day praying to God. Years later, I think I could use another prayer rock to get me to stop and pray.
The encouragement in I Thessalonians 5:17 to “pray continually,” seems daunting in today’s world, where our days are packed full of commitments to our family, friends, work, and community that leave little room for slowing down to talk to God. This busy-ness runs counter to the rest God desires for us to regularly take to connect with Him, creating a barrier that rushes our prayer time or eliminates it altogether. So how do we quiet the noise and remove the distraction?
In this week’s sermon, we were reminded that Jesus gave us a model for how to get in the right posture to talk to God:
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – Matthew 6:6
Jesus encouraged his disciples to remove themselves from everyone around them, and to find a quiet place without distraction to authentically share their hearts with God. Jesus demonstrated the importance of private prayer by regularly withdrawing from the crowds to spend time alone talking to God.
By identifying him as Father, Jesus reminded his disciples and us that our connection with God is personal and that he desires a relationship with us. Like any relationship, we feel distant and uncertain if we never talk to him or only have rushed, one-sided conversations where we present our requests but don’t ask God what he wants for us. Alternately, the more we talk to God, the closer we grow to him as we better know his character, trusting him to transform and lead us.
Whether it’s a prayer rock, phone alarm, sticky note, or some other visual clue, find a way this week to remind yourself to set aside time to pray to God alone. Then, remove any physical barriers and distractions. Worship and praise him for who he is. Ask him to use your words and actions to glorify him as you surrender to his leading. Confess any sins that may be separating you from God and ask for forgiveness. Share your concerns and thank him for his provision. And find comfort in knowing that God promises as we draw near to him, he will draw near to us.