2 KINGS 4:33

What the prophet did here was unquestionably powerful. In the face of death and a situation that was beyond hopeless – “He went in therefore and shut the door… and prayed unto the Lord” (2 Kings 4:33). In this most inspiring passage, we find a precise recipe of how to handle the most dismal and trying circumstances of our lives.

Elisha does not make excuses. He does not flinch or run away but decisively closes the door on his most trusted servant and the mother of the dead youth who interestingly placed him there on the prophet’s bed. It is noteworthy that the writer also points out “…she shut the door and went out” (V.21). So oftentimes we want to do everything in public.

The lesson is so plain here – No distractions! When circumstances are dire and even insurmountable, we must entertain no distractions. Now is the time to focus on God, to pray more intently and intensely. It may seem insulting or strange but sometimes to get a breakthrough, to receive a miracle, it calls for putting some people and things out so that we can lock away with God. Shut the door and pray!

In our Pentecostal tradition, we often pray together and what we call “in concert.” We pray together and we often pray loudly and noisily. Those of us raised in this tradition are quite acquainted with this form of prayer and worship. Sometimes, however, we must confess that it is difficult to concentrate and focus when everybody is praying at the same time. It really could be confusing.

We, the disciples of Jesus, the Church of God, must never disregard the sacred instructions of Jesus in this regard. Jesus so stipulated “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Mattew 6:6). Before Peter is mightily used by the Lord to raise Dorcas from the dead, he applies the same principle. The writer declares, “But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed…” (Acts 9:40). This thought is not lost upon us today.

It is extremely doubtful whether Elisha would have been as effective if he had not shut the door and prayed so desperately and passionately for the resurrection of this dead child. It is easier to hear the voice of God when we remove ourselves from all possible hindrances and other voices. Public demonstrations of His power are generally preceded by deliberate sessions of private intercessions!

Today, may we not be afraid to disconnect and disengage from every worldly attraction and distraction so that we can more freely move about in the realm of the Spirit. As He showed Elisha exactly just what to do when he shut the door and prayed, we remain confident that he will do the same thing for us today. Shut the door and pray! I see miracles about to transpire!