Creating a Personal Prayer Closet in Your Home Space
Creating a Personal Prayer Closet in Your Home Space
Jesus instructs his disciples, "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly" [1]. This command in Matthew 6:6 establishes the biblical foundation for private prayer spaces. The term "closet" here signifies "properly a storehouse" and "hence a place of privacy and retirement" [4], not necessarily a literal closet but any space set apart for solitary communion with God.
Biblical Precedent for Dedicated Prayer Spaces
The practice of designating specific rooms for spiritual purposes appears in the Old Testament. When the Shunammite woman and her husband prepared accommodations for the prophet Elisha, they created "a litle chamber, I pray thee, with walles" furnished with "a bed, and a table, and a stoole, and a candlesticke, that hee may turne in thither when hee commeth to vs" [2]. This passage demonstrates the ancient practice of setting aside furnished space for spiritual purposes, establishing a pattern that extends to personal devotion.
Prayer itself is defined as "converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him" [3]. This direct address requires conditions conducive to focus and sincerity. The physical act of withdrawing to a private space serves the spiritual purpose of eliminating the "spirit of ostentation" that Jesus condemns in public displays of piety [6].
The Purpose of Privacy in Prayer
Christ's instruction to "shut thy door" emphasizes secrecy over security [5]. The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary clarifies that "it is not the simple publicity of prayer which is here condemned" but rather prayer "prompted by the spirit of ostentation" [6]. John Gill notes that Jesus "does not mean to exclude and condemn public prayer" but rather instructs "that they should not only pray in public, but in private also; and especially the latter" [5]. The private prayer closet thus complements rather than replaces corporate worship.
The contrast Jesus draws is with those who "love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets" [7]. A dedicated home space removes the temptation to perform spirituality for human audiences. In this hidden place, the believer encounters "thy Father which seeth in secret" [1], cultivating authenticity in spiritual life.
Practical Considerations for the Prayer Space
While Scripture does not prescribe specific furnishings or dimensions, the Shunammite's chamber offers a model: basic furniture sufficient for the purpose, adequate lighting, and walls providing separation from household activity [2]. The essential requirement is that the space facilitates "the retiring character of true prayer" [6]. This might be a spare room, a corner of a bedroom, or any location where one can close a door and minimize distractions.
The prayer closet serves as preparation for public worship. One commentary observes that "prayer in our chambers is to prepare us for public devotions, and to help us in improving them" [8]. The discipline of regular private prayer in a consistent location builds habits that strengthen corporate worship rather than replacing it.
The Spiritual Discipline of Place
Establishing a physical location for prayer acknowledges human nature's need for structure in spiritual practice. Just as the temple had "many mansions" with "much room still left" [8], the household can accommodate dedicated space for meeting God. The act of entering that space becomes itself a spiritual discipline, a physical movement that signals mental and spiritual transition from daily concerns to divine communion.
The reward Jesus promises—that "thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly" [1]—suggests that private prayer produces public fruit. The prayer closet is not an escape from the world but a place of preparation for faithful presence within it. What happens in secret shapes what emerges in public, making the hidden space a crucible for authentic Christian life.
Sources
- King James Version “[KJV] Matthew 6:6 — But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
- II Kings “II Kings 4:10 (Geneva1599) — Let vs make him a litle chamber, I pray thee, with walles, and let vs set him there a bed, and a table, and a stoole, and a candlesticke, that hee may turne in thither when hee commeth to vs.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Closet — As used in the New Testament, signifies properly a storehouse (Luke 12: 24), and hence a place of privacy and retirement (Matt. 6:6; Luke 12:3).”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 6:6: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet,.... Or "chamber", a secret place, fit for private retirement, meditation, and prayer. And when thou hast shut thy door; see some such like phrases in Isa 26:20 where they are used to express security, here secrecy. Our Lord does not mean to exclude and condemn public prayer, in joining with few, or more persons, in such service; for he himself directs to it, and approves of it, Mat 18:19 but his view is to instruct persons that they should not only pray in public, but in private also; and especially the latter, whi”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 6:6: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet--a place of retirement. and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly--Of course, it is not the simple publicity of prayer which is here condemned. It may be offered in any circumstances, however open, if not prompted by the spirit of ostentation, but dictated by the great ends of prayer itself. It is the retiring character of true prayer which is here taught. Supplementary Directions and Model Prayer (Mat 6:7-1”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: Homily VIII. 1 Timothy ii. 8–10 “I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” “ When thou prayest,” saith Christ, “thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be”
- Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 42:5: shorter--that is, the building became narrower as it rose in height. The chambers were many: so "in My Father's house are many mansions" (Joh 14:2); and besides these there was much "room" still left (compare Luk 14:22). The chambers, though private, were near the temple. Prayer in our chambers is to prepare us for public devotions, and to help us in improving them.”