The Importance of Secluded Prayer for Spiritual Awakening

Where are you?

If we are to pray rightly, we need to understand our current position in relation to God.

There’s no doubt that God is calling His people. But where are they? Are they estranged, long-distance, or intimate?

God is unknown to the estranged, barely known by the distant, and deeply known by the intimate. The estranged are once born. The long-distance twice-born but live like they’re not, and the intimate live the “with-God” life.

The prayer life of the estranged, the long-distant, and the intimate is affected by their relationship with God.

Love Begins in a Relationship

Praying is not something taken lightly. Whenever we pray, we’re entering the Presence of the Holy. The estranged prays to the universe and doesn’t realize the Creator of the universe is listening. It’s not a conversation at all.

God hears the prayers of people who are distant, but the sender is not prepared to receive. Leaving God at arm’s length deafens the ears and blinds the mind. If you draw near to God, He will draw near to you. Prayer is a one-way conversation.

The prayer of the intimate is private, humble, and intimate. It is prepared to be heard, led, counseled, corrected, and even rebuked by the Holy One. Prayer is fellowship with the Holy, and indeed, it is not a one-way conversation. It includes engaging in Scripture because the Lord speaks to us in His Word, and we talk to Him in prayer.

Effective prayer begins with a relationship.

Oh! We Need a Great Awakening!

We live in a world filled with constant noise and great distractions. The practice of seeking solitude for prayer is foreign to us. However, this kind of solitude is necessary if we are ever to cultivate a loving relationship with the Holy.

Are you yearning for a deeper connection with God?

History shows that spiritual awakenings begin in moments of private communion, away from the clamor of the surrounding things. We can learn much from the Third Great Awakening – a mighty religious revival that swept the United States and Europe in the late 19th century.

Seeking an intimate relationship with Father God offers us a valuable lesson on the transformation of the soul in secluded places.

The Power of Solitude

Praying in a secluded place – a quiet room, a tranquil garden, or a remote chapel is life-changing. It’s the Secret Place that provides an environment where the soul can focus solely on God. It is free from interruptions of technology, work, and social obligations.

If we are ever to move from a long-distance relationship to an intimate one, then we must make the effort to get alone with God Himself. Imagine this: the Creator of time wants to take time with you.

Here, you can pour out your heart in a genuine conversation with Father God.

Contrary to what some may think, this is not a new-age idea dressed up in Christianese. No, this is a direct invitation from Christ Jesus as He taught us to pray.

But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you… because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him. Matthew 6:6 & 8b CSB.

In the soul’s solitude, spiritual distractions arise, and you make room for clarity, peace, and intimacy with the Holy One—Father God.

Lessons learned from the Third Great Awakening

We can learn much from the Third Great Awakening, and perhaps, if we are so inclined, we can enter an awakening of our own souls. Even though the Awakening featured social reform and a surge in missionary activity, its key impact happened in secluded places. People referred to the awakening as “the deepening of the spiritual life.”

We could spend days gleaning from the lessons learned, but let us briefly look at these:

• Spiritual renewal begins in the heart. It starts with a deeper relationship with Christ and an authentic desire for personal holiness (wholly separated unto God for His purposes).
• Countless individuals have experienced profound personal transformation in quiet moments of prayer, not in crowded halls.
• Leaders of the movement (Dwight L. Moody and Charles Finney) emphasized repentance, personal holiness, and surrender to God – practices best cultivated in solitude. Lasting change starts when we’re alone with God, honest about our needs, and open to His guidance.
• What happens in the secret place affects your family, the marketplace, and the community.
• Secluded communion with God equips believers with the courage and conviction to persevere. Solitary prayer forges your strength to serve others and start change, allowing your vision to align with God’s heart.
• Listening to the echoes of the Holy requires silence, and in the Holy hush, you will capture the voice of God.
• Secluded prayer enables us to discern God’s will more clearly. Away from competing voices, we can receive direction, comfort, and inspiration from the Holy. Prayer doesn’t mean we speak, and no one listens. Prayer means we stop to listen. Hearing God’s voice is possible when we “intentionally” separate ourselves from distractions and embrace silence.
• Solitude strengthens the perseverance of faith.

The awakening is not without challenges. Some will criticise, oppose, and call you names. However, those who remained steadfast owed it to their consistent routine of secluded prayer. Time alone with God renews the soul and fortifies our faith.

Trouble comes and goes. Trials knock on our front door. Life will not be easy, but time alone with God fortifies you in the presence of Him who assures you He will never leave you nor forsake you—the long-distance dream of the faith of the intimate.

Like any relationship, one cultivates intimacy with the Lord through spending time alone and engaging in personal fellowship.

So Now What?

There are some practical steps leading us to secluded prayer. Put them into practice and wait to see what God can do.

• Choose a consistent location. Find a place where you can be alone and undisturbed. The guest bedroom works for me because I can literally close the door.
• Could you set aside regular time? Schedule moments each day for solitary prayer. Treat it as a non-negotiable appointment with the living God.
• Minimize distractions. Turn off all your devices, silence notifications, and inform others of the set times you’ve established for prayer. Expect some pushback from those who do not understand the value. Stand firm and do not lose heart; persevere, for the Lord Himself will transform your life.
• Use sacred Scripture and a Journal. Read God’s word with a heart to listen and lean in to learn. God will speak to you in Scripture – He is present when you engage in it. Write what He’s showing you. Write passages that inspire reflection, insights, prayers, and answers to your prayers.
• Embrace and cultivate silence. Allow for listening, not just speaking, in your prayers; be open to God’s presence beyond the words. Breathe the breath of the Holy.

In Conclusion

Revival, honest revival, begins with a personal revival first!

By prioritizing secluded prayer, we can come to know God intimately, experience a profound transformation, hear God’s voice more clearly, and emerge empowered by the Holy Spirit to impact the world. In the stillness – the Holy hush – the seeking soul will find God’s enduring love, tender mercies, and guiding hand.

Awaken, oh soul, to the Holy!