Finding Peace in a London Prayer RoomPhil Togwell - 16 May 2011

‘The first words to enter my mind as I settle down to pray:  ”Finally I’ve stopped!” Such relief, knowing that for the next couple of hours I don’t have to answer my phone, no one will ask me to do anything and no job list awaits. I can meet with God here…’

Joy Da Costa works at the charity, Share Jesus International, in Raynes Park, West London and decided to set up a peaceful Prayer Space inside Raynes Park Methodist Church this Easter as part of a local Cafe Church initiative to inspire people to pray. She shared her uplifting and refreshing experiences from inside a London 24-7 Prayer room with us;

‘I rest for a moment in the joy of silence and feel myself relax as my heart prepares to hear from God. Very quickly, even though the peace of inner silence remains,  my heart begins to feel heavy. As I think and reflect on the days and weeks past, I begin to feel the pain of the situations of many of my family and friends and almost by accident I am praying for them, pouring their pain out to God in a medley of words and tears.

A friend comes in, having stumbled upon the prayer space quite by accident, and joins me. Naturally our conversation turns to God and before long we find ourselves experiencing one of those great moments where you are spurring each other on to greater faith, both finding that you are just the person the other needs to hear from at that precise moment in time. Challenged by some of what my friend has said, I move to the corner of the room, an area designed for laying down the guilt, sin and struggles in our lives at the cross of Jesus. We talk, (Jesus and I) I confess, he forgives.

Time for a little bible reading I decide! Feeling a little old skool I go for a passage I’ve been able to recite since I was 3 years old, Psalm 23.

Reading, I realise that I love the words! I’ve known it for so long I’ve forgotten its meaning and I feel that sense of joyous discovery as I read the words as if for the first time.

Journeying around the room I pick up a leaflet about sex trafficking. It just happens to highlight a horrific story from a place I visited on holiday a few years ago. I remember the elegant department stores and decadent parties and I am struck by the injustice. Propelled back into the place of intercession I pray with urgency that God will intervene in the nightmare lives of those who are trafficked and ask that He will show me how I can make a difference.

Two hours have passed since I first came in and I feel as though I could stay here forever, but at the same time, I am energised to continue with my day.’

This story was originally published on the excellent 24-7 UK website where you can find more Prayer Room tales and stories from UK communities.