“Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.” John 4:21 NKJV
Before mobile phones were invented, people had to stand at phone booths to access a landline phone in order to make a call. Those who lived in that era, they must have been astonished when mobile phones became a trend.
Imagine that in today’s world, with all the technological developments we are witnessing, someone still stands at a phone booth while using his mobile phone, every time he wants to place and pick calls, wouldn’t it be a ridiculous sight?
This can be compared to what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well when she asked about the ‘place to worship’ (John 4:19-24). Jesus’ response went beyond the subject of ‘where’. He rather emphasised the manner of worship. According to Him, ‘God is Spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.’ (John 4:24).
For the Jews, the presence of God was in the Ark (2 Samuel 6:12-16, 1 Samuel 4:10-11), or in the Temple (Acts 6:13-14, Acts 7:44-50). But now that we have received the Holy Spirt we have become the temples of God (1 Corinthians 3:16).
We carry His presence everywhere. We need not stand in a building or on a mountain to communicate with God, we are mobile temples. Convinced that God hears us wherever we pray, we can always boldly approach His throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).
But it might be necessary, like Jesus, to isolate ourselves in certain places that are quiet and conducive enough for us to concentrate while we pray (Mark 1:35). It is appropriate to have specific rooms or spaces dedicated to our prayer times, in order to aid concentration and as a sign of consecration.
While we pray together in Church meetings and fellowships, it is very important for every believer to have specific times of personal devotion and seasons of consecration. This does not negate the fact that there is power in corporate prayers and believers are commanded not to forsake the gathering of the saints (Hebrews 10:25). The church is God’s design for preserving the believer (Luke 22:31–32). Private devotion and corporate fellowship should go hand in hand.
We must not only pray openly for others to see but we must remain fervent when no one else is looking because Jesus tells us that God who sees the prayers done in the secret, will reward openly (Matthew 6:4).
Dear believer, pray always and everywhere. In any place and in everyplace. When you are gathered with brothers and sisters in Christ and when you are alone. Pray everywhere!
Bible Reading Plan: 1 Chronicles 18, Psalms 50