By Marlene Tavares
“This, then, is how you should pray.”
(Matthew 6:9 NIV)
Some years ago, my best friend Farah and I went to the movies for our monthly get together and watched War Room, which is a movie about finding power in prayer. In the film, an elderly lady shares with a new friend that she spends most of her time in a little closet inside her bedroom where she prays. She encourages her friend to do the same in making her own “war room” where she can battle the devil through prayer and regain control of her life. And so she does and what she discovers about prayer is amazing.
Often times we can become consumed with the busyness and fast paced world we live in. There is no time for fitting prayer into our daily schedules. While prayer is not confined to any time or space, the idea behind such a concept as a “war room” is that we give ourselves space away from all the commotion and focus solely on our relationship with God. It does not have to be a bedroom, closet, or even church. A connection just needs to be made.
I used to find myself doing most of my praying while driving in the car. Driving for me is therapeutic and so when I was alone and relaxed in my car, I found it the best time to connect with God. Farah and I have jokingly discussed how our cars will now be our “war room” for prayer and although it sounds silly, it’s actually very fitting. Driving is about control and direction just as praying is about seeking direction and giving God control. Whether one decides to make a war room from their bedroom, closet, or car, the important thing is that we have a place we can retreat to at the end of the day and find God. And while it may not always seem like prayers are being heard or answered, it requires commitment, patience, and perseverance just like any other relationship, only then will we feel and see the true power of prayer.
A prayer a day keeps the devil away.
Rising with the Son 