THE PRIVATE PLACE OF PRAYER
by Erwin Bourne—February 9, 2002
The place and the position have nothing to do with
prayer. Talking to God in secret has much to do with
prayer. Certainly, public prayer is important, but we
get our “practice” when in private. When I was getting
established in grace back in my teens, I fixed up a
shed next to where I milked the cow. Then I set up a
small wood stove and cut a pile of kindling. This
became my “secret closet” where I knelt in prayer.
Then on Sunday Afternoons, I would climb a mile into
the foothills of the Rockies, read my Bible and a
good devotional book, then walk between the tall
ponderosas and talk to God in secret. Here I could
pray aloud, for the deer and the magpies didn’t care.
Some fifty years later, living down along the Amazon,
place and position has been altered drastically. I am
a double below-knee amputee. I can neither walk as I
pray, nor can I kneel. A few times roiling over
backwards knocking my head severely broke me of this
practice. Now I pray sitting in my wheelchair out on
the riverfront veranda, or I pray on the flat of my
back during the night. And, believe it or not, I have
my “devotions” sitting before my computer. My
eyesight has nearly failed me. On the computer I have
a “Quick-verse” concordance, and the complete Bible
which I can enlarge.
The voice of prayer is important. Jesus taught his
disciples, And when you pray, d not keep on babbling
like pagans, for they think they will be heard because
of their many words. Do not be like them for your
Father knows what you need before you ask him” Matthew
6:7 NIV. Did you catch it: God hears your unspoken
prayer! Intercessory prayer can be a mere groan
according to Romans 8:26: …The Spirit himself
intercedes for us with groans that words cannot
express.
The hour is now 4:40. I have already prayed for our
missionaries and pastors on the rivers. As director
of AMA missions, I have been praying about specific
mission needs and problems across the three frontiers.
And I have had my devotions as I have been studying
Matthew 6 and Romans 8. Now Jean is putting on our
morning coffee, When the sky lightens across the
Amazon, she will read to me from a good daily
devotional book. Then we will soon be having prayer
together out on the veranda. This day will get off to
a good start. Our Father which sees in secret shall
reward us openly.
Yours for OUTREACH AMAZON—
Erwin and Jean Bourne