Complacency: What’s In Your (Prayer) Closet?

Marianne took a deep breath and grabbed the door handle. She had neglected the closet far too long. Her indifference had brought her life to a standstill and now, she could not find the things she needed each day. Marianne mustered just enough energy to open the closet door.

Useless gifts, unreturned purchases, rubbish – the floor and shelves were strewn with clutter. The mess was difficult to face but Marianne took one step at a time. She sorted through and discarded much of it. When she found clothes that did not fit or were out of date, Marianne removed them from closet and made plans to replace them.

As she rearranged what was left, Marianne discovered a few items she thought she had lost. She grinned and set them in a safe place. Re-energized, Marianne left the closet door open and decided to peek in later that day.

Prayer in the Neglected Closet

Image: Olive Coco

Jesus said, “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen” (Matthew 6:6, NIV). In Bible times this term for “room” (tameíón) indicated a chamber in house that was used for storage.

That is why today we refer to a “prayer closet” as a dedicated time or space in our lives devoted to one-on-one conversation with God.

“A neglected closet is the beginning of all spiritual decline.” So said pastor and author Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), known as “the Prince of Preachers,” in referring to our prayer lives. Marianne’s neglected closet had led to clutter … and indifference. So do ours.

Re-Open the Closet Door

Your early days as a Christ-follower may be the best and most energizing you have known. You run to God’s presence often and hard, seeking out a quiet prayer closet to be renewed and reassured by Him.

But when you’re not intentional, your prayer closet – like Marianne’s – can be slowly wrapped in neglect. You may open the door hastily to shove a hurt on the shelf, but then close it quickly. Spiritual clutter accumulates. Soon, your zeal for Christ becomes lost among resentment and unconfessed sin. You find it more difficult to clothe yourself in the armor of God because it’s lost or misplaced. Worse yet is a closet door that remains shut.

Is it any wonder that a neglected prayer life leads you to lose your passion for God?

Marianne overcame her inertia with one simple first step. She reached forward and opened the door. That one step allowed Marianne to begin to overcome her indifference and renew her zeal for God.

Will you maintain your closet’s neglect – or discard, replace, and rearrange what’s in there? The path back from indifference to zeal for God begins with one step. Just grasp the handle to your prayer closet and open the door.