Prayerful: Finding your personal prayer spot.

“Why must people kneel down to pray? If I really wanted to pray I’ll tell you what I’d do. I’d go out into a great big field all alone or in the deep, deep woods and I’d look up into the sky—up—up—up—into that lovely blue sky that looks as if there was no end to its blueness. And then I’d just feel a prayer.” ― Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery

The beauty of creation has the power to elicit spontaneous prayer, doesn’t it? I’ve had moments when prayer bubbled up in me as I stood beside the ocean, enjoyed a mountain view, or held my sleeping babies.

Anne’s dream of praying all alone in a giant field or in the deep forest brings up a wonderful feeling. It’s the sense of being in a place where you can commune with God without interruption. It’s safe, comfortable, and set apart.

Since spectacular mountaintop moments only come once in a while for most of us, how can we make our prayer times fruitful and special on regular days?

There’s value in creating dedicated spaces for extended times of prayer. When we have a routine and a place and space for spiritual things, those spaces become tender, holy, and reverent.

Here are a few ideas for your own personal prayer spot:

• Pray in a dedicated place. Create a prayer nook for your time with God. Perhaps there’s a candle, a blanket, a favorite drink, a Bible, and a pen close at hand.
• Pray sitting at a table. One of my friends sits at her kitchen table with everything spread out in front of her so she can look through the glass doors to the backyard.
• Pray in a secluded spot. I often pray in my closet because it’s sometimes the only quiet place in my house. There are no distractions. It’s dark, close, and cozy.
• Pray on a walk. I love prayer walks. My pastor and his wife walk and pray together. There’s something about moving and praying that works.
• Pray beside your bed. Praying before you get into bed at night and when you first get up in the morning is a beautiful way to start and end each day with Jesus.
• Pray in the shower. I have a friend who intercedes for others in the shower after her family leaves for school and work. It’s a distraction-free space.
• Pray in the car. If you’re driving alone, try praying out loud. It’s freeing. You can pray anything and everything because it’s private.

The key to finding your own personal prayer spot is communion with God. It’s the place and posture that helps you focus your mind and heart on prayer and draw near to God. As you pray there more, you’ll soon find that you have many prayer memories attached to that place. It will become a treasured place that reminds you of many loving conversations with your Heavenly Father.

I pray that these ideas help you think about a special prayer spot that’s all your own, where you can stay a while and spend time with God.

Do you have a prayer space? If not, where do you think you’d like to make one? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

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Do you love Jane Austen? Are you passionate about prayer?

My new book, Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen, releases in October (Bethany House). Click here to read the book description and to pre-order your copy!

Coming soon: A Praying with Jane Facebook group where we can mix and mingle and pray for one another as we explore Jane Austen’s beautiful prayers.