“One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and He prayed to God all night.”-Luke 6:12
As we read about Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and truly think about and look at Jesus’ remarkable life on earth, it doesn’t take long to see that Jesus loved to pray. Jesus would often pray, crying out to and listening to the Father. Clearly, prayer was a high priority for Jesus. In fact, the disciples were so struck by Jesus’ prayer life that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1).
In Matthew 14:23, we read about Jesus going up into the hills by Himself to pray into the night. This happened right after Jesus had miraculously fed over 5,000 people. Another example of Jesus in prayer can be found in Mark 1:35. Jesus got up before the sunrise that day and went to an isolated place to pray. Yet another time we see Jesus in prayer can be found in Luke 5:16. This verse explains how Jesus often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.
Prayer mattered and continues to matter to Jesus! Therefore, it must matter to us. Max Lucado once wisely posed this question, “Let me ask the obvious. If Jesus, the Son of God, the sinless Savior of humankind, thought it worthwhile to clear His calendar to pray, wouldn’t we be wise to do the same?”
Is taking intentional time for prayer something that truly matters to us? We find time for what truly matters to us. We can find time for hobbies we enjoy. We can find time for leisure activities we appreciate, for sports we are passionate about, for whatever is really a major object of interest or concern to us. Here’s the truth, nothing matters more than time to really connect with our Maker and converse with The One who knows everything.
So, let’s be encouraged afresh to carve out time daily to talk and listen to God. Let’s find a good quiet place, grab our Bibles, open them with humility, and slow down to hear from the One we need the most. This time is never wasted. And this is astounding—He wants to listen to us! Most importantly, He wants us to hear Him and know the truth that sets us free.
Godspeed, friends!
-Scott