Several years ago, God called me to host a prayer line at midnight. We met weekly on Wednesday night/Thursday morning, right at 12 AM on the dot. It was called “Midnight Manifestation” and it was definitely a time to remember. Many of our prayers are often answered, figured out, or properly understood in the “midnight hour,” thus the connection to “midnight manifestation.” What many don’t know is it was birthed during a time when I lived in an apartment building and my neighbors were messy. They were also always keeping me awake at night. One had their tires slashed, one had their windshield smashed, and others were fighting at all hours. So when God told me to re-start our prayer line and have it at midnight, I figured I’d just be awake by default.
There are many benefits to praying at night, however. It doesn’t have to be on a prayer line or with a formal group, although both can be great. Historically speaking, Christians have always prayed in the midnight hour. In fact, many have prayed every three hours, all day and night, every day. There’s something special about staying up to pray with God, whether it’s your practice due to work hours or just something you want to undertake. Here are some great reasons to pray at midnight, no matter where you may be.
It’s the hour of a new day
In Bible times, “day” and “night” weren’t measured as strictly as they are now. The new day started at evening, with daylight hours running from dawn until dusk. Due to seasonal changes, this meant the perception of day and night changed all the time. In modern times, we know more about times, seasons, and hourly shifts. Midnight is understood to be the start of each day, resetting our clocks to zero. It is, therefore, a point of change in each day.
We don’t tend to think of such in this way. Most of us think of our day as starting when we wake up, go to work, or the coming of the sun to its setting. And as much as we might protest the current time schedule doesn’t fall within Biblical understanding, we understand the idea of God coming through in the “midnight hour.” This means we’ve updated our sense of time to modern sensibilities, and recognize God is with us, even when it’s on a modern clock. The midnight hour represents newness, a new start. Even though it’s dark and many aren’t awake, it’s a passing from one thing to another, even though it is missed by many people.
It’s easier to avoid the temptation to be “deep” and “super spiritual” at midnight
If we desire to receive divine revelation, we must empty ourselves of ourselves. All our brilliant-sounding spirituality sounds like nothing before God. The complex theologies and theories we form to sound smarter than we are don’t hold up in His divine presence. Too often, we approach things like prayer lines or calls with the intent to dazzle others with what we think are brilliant spiritual thoughts. Even though we don’t like to admit it, much of what we think is great often confuses others and sounds like a lot of nonsense in the long run. If we are tired from the day, we will avoid the temptation to try and impress others. This gives midnight prayer a perfect opportunity for things to be about what God wants us to learn rather than what we want to say.
Opens us up to honesty
When we pray, we communicate with God. Too often, prayer becomes a struggle between our will and God’s. We’re afraid to open up and be honest, because others might think differently of us. We are equally afraid to be honest with God, because what He might offer may not be what we want. When we stand still and wait for God late at night, we aren’t as tempted to be argumentative, show off, or worry about perceptions and responses.
It forces us to be less selfish and more thoughtful in our prayers
When I first had a prayer line, I reached a point where I couldn’t pray for one more person’s finances. Even now, I refuse to pray for people to find dates, cougars, sugar mamas, or partners. The best thing we can pray for is God’s will in someone’s life, setting them on the path to better discover it. Unfortunately, most of us don’t take this approach, and then prayer becomes a long-winded, self-sided discussion with the hopes that God will do what we like. When we pray late at night, we aren’t as apt to make prayer as long-winded, nor as self-centered. It’s a perfect hour to be more thoughtful and careful about genuine prayer, rather than prattling on endlessly.
It helps us learn how to pray
Prayer is of the most forgotten aspects of Christianity. As a primary purpose of the church, we must not forget it in light of “decreeing and declaring.” Prayer isn’t wish fulfillment, spellcasting, or demanding. It’s learning to talk to God, speaking in language that helps us know Him better as we learn to hear from Him more. Rather than being disrespectful in ways that almost sound like they are barking orders at God, midnight prayer can go a long way to help us become one with Him and His will. By forcing true prayer – not endless preaching, giving or receiving endless word, calling things out on a prayer line, but just the quiet of you and God at midnight – will help you change your interaction with God for the better.
God requires us to “press through”
Midnight prayer isn’t convenient for most of us. It’s an hour where most are either sleeping, getting ready for bed, relaxing, or doing anything related to prayer. That’s also the point of why it’s the perfect time for prayer. Those who commit to pray at midnight press their way to believe for divine manifestation in the midnight hour. While we turn left, right, and sideways to ensure people find attending church a convenient experience, sometimes doing things that are uncomfortable is good for us. Making something inconvenient on purpose goes a long way to show how disciplined we are, how serious we are, and if we are just along for show or for real.
Doing things at midnight: the hour of darkness, the hour of secret things of God teaches us about manifestation, and how it comes forth. Manifestation comes when we seek Him in the secret place, at the secret hour, more than when it’s easy to do so. Anyone can show up at church, fresh-scrubbed and bright-eyed, ready to show off their incredible spiritual thoughts with their gigantic Bible in hand. It’s a lot harder to lie or pretend to be something you’re not when it’s time for the secret place to emerge.
Be not anxious
Many of us face fears of the unknown. Praying in the midnight hour helps us confront that fear. it makes me think of Philippians 4:6-7:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
To confront the unknown, we must address it. Praying in a time of darkness, one when we can’t see what’s in front of us with ease forces us to trust God’s presence.
The midnight prayer challenge
In this new year, why not try praying at midnight sometime? Make the date with God and see how He shows up in your life. If it draws you closer to Him, consider making it a regular practice. See you in the midnight hour!
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