The Refreshing Nature Of Prayer

Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
Luke 6:12

The end of a hectic day. A rocky mountainside. Undisturbed moments alone. For Jesus it was the perfect time and place to pass the entire night in prayer with his Father.

Charles Spurgeon points out the significance of the time, place, persistence and occasion for this all-night prayer vigil.

WALK WITH CHARLES SPURGEON
“If ever one born of woman might have lived without prayer, it was our perfect Lord. And yet none was ever so much in supplication as he!

“The time he chose was the hour of silence when the crowd would not disturb him and when all but he had ceased to labor. While others found rest in sleep, he refreshed himself with prayer.

“The place was also well selected. He was alone where none would intrude, where none could observe.

“The persistence of his pleadings is remarkable: The long watches were not too long; the cold wind did not chill his devotions; the grim darkness did not darken his faith, or loneliness check his importunity.

“The occasion for this prayer is notable; it was after his enemies had been enraged—prayer was his refuge and solace; it was before he sent for the twelve apostles—prayer was the gate of his enterprise, the herald of his new work.

“The fact of this eminent prayerfulness of Jesus is a lesson for us—he has given us an example that we may follow in his steps.”

WALK CLOSER TO GOD
Students of prayer should find it no different. When big decisions confront you, when commitments need to be strengthened, there is no better place to begin than with a quiet time and place for prayer.

As one commentator has wisely observed, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed. But you can do no more than pray until you have prayed.”