The Best Places to Pray!

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Does the Bible delineate where are the best places to pray? Where did those in Scripture offer their petitions and cries for help? Does it matter whether supplications are made privately or in a public setting? When we do pray, should we always do so by ourselves or are there times when doing so as a group is acceptable?

The Ideal Place

The ideal location to pray at, if a place can be found that is quiet and offers relatively privacy, is in a home.

But you, when you pray, enter into a private room; and after shutting the door, pray to your Father Who is in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret shall reward you openly. (Matthew 6:6, HBFV throughout).

The early church of God often communed with the Father either in the homes of brethren or in rooms of various sizes (Acts 1:13 - 14, 24 - 25, 12:5, 15). That said, the Bible records an amazing variety of places where prayer with the Eternal took place.

Jesus was known to pray on the side of a mountain (Matthew 14:23, Mark 6:46, Luke 6:12, 9:28). One time Peter made his supplications known on a friend's roof (Acts 10:9). Petitions have been offered by the side of a river (Acts 16:13), in wilderness areas (Luke 5:16), and in a beautiful garden (Matthew 26:36, Mark 14:32, Luke 22:45). The fighting men of three Israelite tribes cried out to the Eternal and their prayer was heard when they were on a battlefield.

And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried to God in the battle, and He was pleased to hear them because they put their trust in Him. (1Chronicles 5:18 - 20).

Children praying before a meal
The Prayer before Meal
Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin (before 1740)

Because of their arrest in Philippi, the Apostle Paul and Silas had to talk with God and sing hymns while in prison (Acts 16:24 - 25). Paul, when the ship taking him to Palestine stopped in the port of Miletus, met near the boat with Ephesian church elders and together sought God's will (Acts 20:17 - 38).

In all things, I (Paul) have showed you (Ephesian elders) that you are obligated to so labor to support those who are weak, remembering the words that the Lord Jesus Himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' And after saying these things, he knelt with them all and prayed. (Acts 20:35 - 36).

During Paul's fourth missionary journey, he found himself on a ship battling fierce winds and violent storms on the Mediterranean Sea. His willingness to pray, while being lost at sea, saved not only himself but also 275 others (Acts 27:14 - 27).

Petitions to God were also frequently made in places such as Jerusalem's temple (Luke 18:10, Acts 3:1). Jesus not only called it a "house of prayer" for all people but also threw out those who profaned this holy purpose (Mark 11:17, Matthew 21:13, Luke 19:46).

Future Prayers

In the future, all nations will gather in Jerusalem to pray to the Lord (Isaiah 56:4 - 8, Zechariah 8:20 - 22). Prayers have been made by those either visiting foreign lands or while they were captive in them (Genesis 20:7, 32:9 - 10, 2Chronicles 6:37 - 38). The prophet Jonah cried out for help from the belly of a great fish (Jonah 2:1).

The best place to pray, based on Christ's Sermon on the Mount, is in a private location in our homes or in some other quiet location (Daniel 6:10, Matthew 6:6, Acts 10:9, etc.). Jesus himself frequently communed with his Father while alone (Mark 6:46, Luke 5:16, 6:12, Matthew 14:23). The Bible records many cases, however, which deviate from this common pattern. For example, there were times when Christ communicated to the Father along with others (Luke 9:28 - 29).

Praying During Holy Days

Many people sought God, both individually and collectively, when celebrating the annual Feast days in Jerusalem (2Chronicles 30). Elijah publicly requested that the Eternal consume his sacrifice on Mount Carmel, which sealed the fate of pagan priests who were leading the people astray (1Kings 18). The twelve disciples heard Christ pray for them, on the night he was betrayed, as they walked to Gethsemane (John 17:1 - 26).

It should be noted that Christ roundly criticized Jewish religious leaders (e.g. Pharisees, scribes, etc.) not because they prayed in public places but because of their self-centered attitude for doing so (Matthew 6:5 - 6). The early New Testament church frequently met in groups, both during the week and on the Bible Sabbath, to pray together (Acts 1:13 - 14, 24 - 25, 2:46, 12:1 - 5, 1Corinthians 14:14 - 16, etc.). James admonishes the church to always have a group of mature Christians ready to visit and beseech the Eternal for the healing of those who are sick (James 5:14 - 15).

Acceptable Anywhere

It is always acceptable, whether in the privacy of a home or in some public place, to make our petitions known to God. There are also times, however, when we should pray with others (e.g. during worship services, bible studies, anointing the sick, in times of crisis or personal need, etc.) so that our collective voices reach the ears of the Eternal. Ultimately, the best place to pray is anywhere!

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What Are the Holy Days?
What Is the Church?
How to Prepare Home Bible Studies
Was Paul Really an Apostle?
What Is a Living Sacrifice?

Prayer
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References
Complete Book of Bible Lists
Holy Bible, a Faithful Version