My last post listed biblical sites of Jesus stepping away from others and spending solitude time in prayer. Sometimes the “away time” wasn’t very far away physically. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus was a short distance from Peter, James, and John. Close enough for them to hear Him pray. My point is, sometimes your “away place” may not be as isolated as you would like, but that should not discourage you from focusing on the Father and praying.
When I read the occurrences of Jesus praying there are a few things I’ve concluded that have helped in my own prayer life. Of course I need to be careful not to venture too far…this is holy ground and it is impossible for any of us to grasp the fellowship that went on between the Son of God and God the Father in those private times of prayer. So I tread carefully as I share my thoughts. Here’s one observation.
This was a pattern in Jesus’ life. Those times (listed in the previous post) were not the only times He stepped away to pray in the secret place. He regularly got alone with the Father. This was who and what Jesus did daily, just as He taught and instructed the Disciples to pray daily. Yep, daily. When Jesus gave them the pattern and model of prayer, that we call, “The Lord’s Prayer,” it was to pray daily.
Matthew 6:11 (ESV) — 11 Give us this day our daily bread,
Now are you ready for the obvious thump? If Jesus knew the need and benefit from daily prayer with the Father, then … (thump!).
That is what struck me. If Jesus, then me–even more.
It doesn’t matter if your mind can wrap around the “what” or the “why.” Jesus gave us His example and taught us that we should and NEED to pray to the Father daily. I’ll promise you this, if you begin setting aside time to seek the Father in prayer with the aid of Scripture, you will realize the “what” and the “why.”
Deuteronomy 4:29 (ESV) — 29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV) — 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Luke 11:9–10 (ESV) — 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
The scripture quotes could go on and on. Jesus’ example and the supporting and exhorting scriptures throughout the Bible has helped motivate me through the years when my mind, my flesh, or my soul are weary and/or weak. If Jesus, then me-even more so!
Leave a Reply