Every trial we face is fought on the battlefield of prayer. It doesn’t matter if you’re fighting for your health, your relationships, or walking through financial hardship. The truth is, every victory or defeat, is fought in the spirit; before it manifest itself in the natural.
What God Says About Prayer In A Room
Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) tells us; “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;“
So that means anything we are faced with, we can go to God in prayer. Yes, you can pray anywhere, and you should. But there is something about going to a place where you are alone just you and God with no distractions. A place that allows you to speak to God; where it’s quiet enough to hear Him speak to you.
I know as a mother, I don’t have the time to go to the bathroom in peace. Let alone pray or read the Bible in peace. However, when I saw the movie; The War Room, my heart was compelled to find a place where I can get real with God!
I have to admit, when I came home, I had every excuse in the book. I don’t have the space. My closet is too small and I use it for something else. I can’t use my room. There’s no privacy, no matter where I go in the house.
Then one day I was reading my Bible, and turned to Matthew 6:6 (NKJV) says; “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
My War Room Prayer Conviction
WOW! You talk about feeling convicted. I realized just then that I needed to remove my excuses. This is ironic considering I serve as a Pastor, and designate prayer and study times. However, like many, I get easily distracted. The phone rings. Or, I could be walking in my family room praying; and notice the coffee table needs dusting.
Even something as innocent as having worship music playing in the background while I pray and read was distracting me. I would get caught up in the song, and forget what I was praying about. Can you relate?
So that was it! I decided one evening to clean out a small space in my closet under my staircase. This space was so small, I couldn’t even stand up. So I had to get a bath rug and pillow to sit on the floor.
There was no light; so I used LED battery operated lights. There was no circulation; I bought small battery operated fans. In addition, I bought a drape on clearance to separate my space from my office supplies.
As you can see I used a simple cork board and white board to hang up my prayer requests. I even included a clip board to keep track of all my answered prayers. That way I can remind myself of the good things that the Lord has done.
This was up for only a week. Then, one day I went to pray and saw that Andre had set up a space for him in the corner of my war room! Say What? That meant, when he saw the power of going to a place to commune with God with no distractions, it encouraged him to join me.
Am I Confined To A Room?
Don’t let the word “place” in Matthew 6 confine you to a “room.” For those who may not have a closet don’t let that hinder you from creating a secret place of intimacy between you and God.
I have friends and family who have set up war room “spots” in their rooms. Even a small corner between the bed and the wall works just fine too!
To take this a step further, our daughter wanted to create a war room, but she wanted to keep her prayers private. So we created a war room “binder.” This is just a journal that sits on her night stand, in which every morning she opens it up and prays. She even has a section in the back where she keeps her answered prayers.
What You Need
There are only a few things you need to create the perfect War Room or Space!
Small Space Free From Distractions
I want my time to be uninterrupted. Therefore, I do not take my cell phone in my war room or any worship music. When I go to my secret place before God, I am giving Him my undivided attention.
Bible
I keep one of our extra Bibles in my war room, just in case I feel led to read scripture, or God puts something on my heart.
Index Cards / Sticky Notes
I use index cards and sticky notes to write encouraging words, or scriptures I’m standing on.
Journal
When we sit in a place to talk to God and hear from Him, He will give us things to ponder in our hearts. And what better place to keep these things, than in a journal!
Rug, Chair or Pillow
It doesn’t matter how big or small your space is, when you kneel down before your Father, He sees your heart! So whatever you need to make yourself comfortable to kneel before the Father, will do the job!
Cork Board or White Board
I tend to put long term prayer requests on a cork board and short term prayer requests on the white board.
Prayers answered quickly, and moved to the answer payer board, are short term prayers. (I.E. praying for our daughter to do well on her math test)
Diffuser (Essential Oils)/ Air Freshener
You may be wondering why I use this, but the fresh aroma creates a calming atmosphere.
Nine times out of ten, when I go to my war room, I am coming to lay my burdens down. So when I enter and smell the scent of lavender or peppermint, it instantly calms my heart and mind as I kneel before the Father.
Caution: As much as I love candles, I don’t use any in my war room, since I’m in a small closet. I don’t want to leave it lit, or knock it over.
A diffuser or air fresher is a safe alternative for those who may not have the open space to safely use candles.
Other Items
And don’t forget miscellaneous items such as tissue, pens, highlighters, etc.! Keep in mind these are just suggestions you don’t need them all.
In The End
My War Room is not a place where I go to tell God what I need. It’s a place I go where He invites me to sit in His presence with no distractions.
My War Room is a place where I surrender my heart and I stand in the gap for others. Then I find the strength to walk outside my War Room armed and ready for battle until the next day.
Where do you meet God?
It can be in a room, a closet, or a corner of your bedroom. The location doesn’t really matter. The point is, prioritize private prayer. Where do you meet God and where does He expect to find you?
~ Timberley Gray
Great post! Very encouraging! After the movie it did seem a little daunting to set up a war “room”, but you made it seem more doable 🙂
Thank You Heather! I would love to see a picture of your war spot when you set it up. I promise you, identifying a place to meet God daily will take your prayers to a whole new level!
Send me a picture at info@livingourpriorities.com ~ Blessings
Thank you for the encouragement. Creating my own war room seems more attainable now.
Praise God Candance! That is awesome to hear. Send us some pictures when you do we would love to see your space!
Hi Timberly, I love your post. I really need a war room but I’m living by the road side and there is too many distractions, 😆. I will seek God’s face in this regard and see how he leadsvne to create a space for Him and ai only. It’s very necessary to have that kind of relationship with God and for one to go to the extent of doing this for God, God will indeed realise that we are getting it. This is what he wants. God bless you with more wisdom to share such knowledge with us. Glory 🙌
Pastor, great artical . I need a reminder!
Thank you Ron! We all need those reminders at time, here’s to a new year of increasing our prayer life.
Great ideas! I need to figure out where I want to make my War Room.
Thanks Sarah! Don’t let the word “room” limit you. Find a small place in your house where you can have isolated time with God! It will make a huge difference in your prayer life!
Thnks for this
You are so welcomed! ~ Blessings
Wonderful ideas and love the photos of your war room.
Thank you so much!
Saw the link to your blog on Pinterest, the post has inspired me to work on a project with my young women’s Sunday school class. We will study prayer, spiritual warfare and then create individualized “portable” war rooms that can be with them anywhere they go as my students are mostly college students. Thank you for the inspiring post! I will pray for your ministry and the work you are doing to build the kingdom of God
Thank you so much Yvonne. What a wonderful opportunity you have to inspire those young ladies. May God continue to give you the wisdom to lead them and help guide them in their walk with God. ~ Blessings
Can I use some of this article for a women’s event at my church. We will be watching the War Room and then giving out suggestions on how to start yourself. You have such great, do-able ideas.
Hi Lyndy thank you for reading this post. We received your request and just responded by email. Please check your email. ~ Blessings
Hello
I want to thank you for this. I have been needing a war room & I am really needing one ASAP! There is much Spiritual warfare going on in my family and it seems to get worse when I pray.
I don’t even have a closet. or a corner. But I long to speak with Him. And I long for put every need I have inside of Him.
Even though I have a small house, I still wanted a place that would block out all distractions. So I went to Privacy Pop on the internet and bought a bed tent for my bed. I’m gonna use this as my War Room. I’m gonna tape up prayer requests on the inside of the bed tent. And since I have a difficult time sleeping at night, I know it will serve in helping me get a good night’s sleep……and the sleep will be even sweeter with a deep prayer life. I can hardly wait to receive it through the mail, especially since there were so many excellent reviews of the bed tent on that website.
WOW Glencye, that is amazing! Just reading your comment gave me chills. I would love for you to send a picture to us so we can see what that looks like. If you want to of course, you can email it to us at info@livingourpriorities.com We trust these intimate prayer time is going to bless you beyond measure. ~ Blessings
Loved this and I loved your tiny war room! Thank you for sharing and for the verses!
Ahh thank you for stopping by to read. ~ Blessings
I love this! The idea of creating my own war room has been weighing heavily on my heart lately. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi Tenesha, I’m so glad this post inspired you. Once I created my space I was absolutely in love with it! It is has become my safe haven even in the middle of the day when I feel like I need to be in God’s Presence alone. When you create your space I would love to see a picture you can email it to me at: info@livingourpriorities.com ~ Blessings
These are great suggestions. Like your daughter, I prefer a journal for my “war room.” But still, I need the place and quiet, just God and me.
Oh Debbie I hear you on that. Our daughter is very private but she does enjoy personal time with God so I totally get you. Find a pretty journal and a special place to hang out with God and it’s all the same. He doesn’t care where or how we do it, He just wants His time with us. ~ Blessings
Such a great post! Thanks for sharing on Grace and Truth. I’ll be sharing on social media!
Thank you Aimee for reading and sharing! ~ Blessings
Thank you for this! My wheels are spinning, I will have to think about where I could do this. Not sure my 3 year old will leave me alone long enough to even be still and quiet with God.
Visiting from #Salt&Light
Hi Julie! I’m glad this encouraged you to get those wheels spinning. I am sure you will find the perfect place to meet your Heavenly Father, and don’t be surprised if your 3 year old finds your spot! ~ Blessings
Thanks for sharing! I’m just like you – always distracted by anything and everything especially during prayer and devotional times. This idea is just brilliant and I like your suggestion of using a small corner of the room. It has definitely inspired me.
Hi Janet! So glad you are feeling inspired. I would love to see the space you create, if you don’t mind you can send a photo over to me at info@livingourpriorities.com ~ Blessings
You have given me a great motivation to set up a “war spot” in the corner of my bedroom. Thank you.
Awesome! Please share pictures when you do, I would love to see it. You can email them to: info@livingourprioities.com
I live in a small place so I’m going to have to get really creative, but after reading your words, I really want to create my own War Room. I love your practical advice on how to do it. Thank you for linking with Grace and Truth last week. I would love to feature this post tomorrow. http://www.dawnklinge.com
Hi Dawn! So glad you feel the nudging to create a space for you and God, and thank you so much for reading.I am truly humbled and honored to be featured with Grace and Truth! Can’t wait to check it out. ~ Blessings
Yes, yes and yes! I am featuring a post like this at my blog this week. I couldn’t agree with you more! If we accomplish nothing this year but getting this space and a solid prayer habit down it is the most important thing ever! Especially for this year. Thanks for sharing this!
That is awesome! And you are so right, if we don’t do anything this year but purpose to go before the Father we would have accomplished great things! Thank you for stopping by to read. ~ Blesssings
Oh, the comment above was by Sherry @ The Charm of Home. I didn’t mean to make it anon.
Ha-Ha no worries Sherry! Thank you for letting us know! ~ Blessings
Loved this article! We just had our annual ladies event. Our speaker was Marie Armenia. http://www.mariearmenia.blogspot.com Her mother, Molly Bruno, was the role model for the character Miss Clara in the movie War Room. The theme of our event was LEGACY. The first session Marie shared about her mother. It was powerful. The second session even more so. If you can have her at your church do so. You too would be blessed. Her husband, Phil, comes with her. She and Phil sing together. He is a fabulous pianist and former pastor. They now reside near Nashville.
Hi Teresa! What a blessing to have her speak at your event, especially on the topic of LEGACY. I’m sure it touched every woman who was present.Thank you for stopping by to read and share that information with us. ~ Blessings
I started working on my War Room yesterday, I cleared out a closet and bagged clothes for donations. I should be done by Friday. I’m excited to get this completed and have my personal space for God and I.
That is awesome, and how exciting to create this special place for you and God! Thank you for sharing. ~ Blessings
Love what you did with your space! I have more of a war room spot, as you mentioned. Now I just need to add the place to list prayer requests. 🙂
HI Kelly thanks for stopping by! Yes a prayer request list and an answered prayer request list, it’s so good to look over pages and pages of prayers the Lord answered!
Than you for the information, I am setting up me a war room for my home, needing prayer for my marriage, my heart has been broken , and i don’t know what to do, he has an addiction and it’s tearing my home apart,
Hi Diana, I just prayed for you and trust that God will meet you right where you are no matter where you set up your war room. I asked the Father to restore your heart, and give you grace and wisdom concerning your marriage. God bless you and thank you for sharing your heart with me. ~ Blessings
Great post, Timberley! I currently don’t have a spot and I haven’t seen the movie yet but you’ve inspired me to do both 🙂
Oh you will love the movie Julie. Let me know what you think after you watch it. Thank you for stopping by to read. ~ Blessings
Thank you Timberely awesome post! I enjoyed reading and trying to think of a spot for my war room. I have never seen the movie or heard of it until after reading your post this morning.
Oh bless you Vonda! And so happy to hear that it quickened your spirit to find a spot to war in the spirit. Definitely try to watch the movie it will bless you!
Just be careful with the essential oils if you have cats and do your research. Some, like lavender, are toxic to them. And we wouldn’t want to hurt God’s creatures!
I always think of Matthew 6:6 in regard to a “war room”: “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
Even though I pray all through the day, most of my answered prayers come from my “war room” time. There is just a different feeling in my soul when I spend time with my “Heavenly Father” in my little closet. 🙂 Nothing surpasses the spiritual awakening with this sweet gesture from your heart!
Amen Pam I love my war room place where I meet Him and open my heart. Thank you for stopping by to read. ~ Blessings
Thank you so much for this post. I had my “war room” set up in my dinning area, but now I have a very large desk where I can have everything I need and I also have a space on the wall next to the desk where I can hang a peg/white board. This was a very encouraging read and I appreciate you sharing! God bless!
Oh what a great idea! Love the peg board! Thank you for coming by to read. ~ Timberley
I needed this.
Thank you!
Aww Praise God!
Thanks for this. My friend and I decided yesterday to make our war rooms. I am a mother of two and a teacher so I get very busy most times, but still no excuse. I watched the movie War Room a while back and wanted to make the room but had no space so yesterday since school is closed on my end and I have no where to go due to the pandemic I decided to pack up my clothes in a suitcase (can’t go any where anyway) and made my half of the closet into my war room. I am thankful for the ideas that you posted and will finalizing it today. God bless you.
Oh wow good for you. I’d love to see your war room when its done. Love your motivation. ~ Blessings
I live in a lower floor apartment, and I have neighbor noises, their walking, their tv, I can even hear a throat cleared, that said, do you think it would be okay to use ear plugs? I know it’s a silly question, but I’m serious, I don’t want anything to keep me from hearing His voice. Thanks for an answer. Blessings❤️🙏
Well that’s a real question. You can use ear plugs, and I would even play worship music to drown out their noise. You never know if you can hear them, that means they can hear you. And maybe the worship music will change their heart. ~ Blessings
I like the idea of a journal! Thank you for all of these ideas!
Thankyou for this great post. I love to use candles with my prayers but since moving in to a rental house where they are not allowed I have found the flameless battery operated ones a good substitute. I also make sure I have tissues on hand, a small pocket pack is handy. I have had the experience of suddenly crying in prayer that took me by surprise.
Oh Rachael I know those tears during prayer but don’t you just love it? That’s when I know the Holy Spirit is working and I just allow them to flow! ~ Blessings
I have been saved for some years but I ran from God well here recently I just redecicated my life to God and got baptized. But my prayer life is not what it should be. I have 5 kids and not a moments peace. I just watched war room. And want so badly to have my own private place but My house is set up very strangely my dryer is actually in my closet so setting up a prayer room seemed unreachable. But reading your post has helped me come up with a plan. So thank you!!! I hope it turns out well.
Oh yay!! Can’t wait to hear all about the space God has given you. Please share it with us!