Hi
Jesus took every opportunity available to Him to pray; sometimes publicly, sometimes not. If Jesus Christ, Who was God in human living form at that time, opted to seriously invest in prayer; how about us? Please receive today’s Holy Nougat
“Yet He would often slip away into the wilderness and pray.” Luke 5:16 TLV
I suspect that you may have heard some of the mis-logic used over time to explain why we hadn’t spent time in prayer:
… I was so worried/angry … I couldn’t pray;
… I got distracted; I couldn’t find the words;
… I already was sinning, so it didn’t make sense;
… it didn’t cross my mind;
… I forgot.
For the record; I have probably used all of those excuses, or similar ones, several times; even since being ordained. And each time I’ve given in to the temptation to forgo prayer; it has been to my detriment. My loss. Yet here we find Jesus going to the wilderness as his prayer escape. It was a place considered fraught with danger – deserted, inhabited by wild animals, and few amenities. And when there, He entered direct communion-conversation with God.
Although the wilderness is a dangerous place, Jesus demonstrates that it is a space where we can find God’s presence. So, when in danger, we can pray. We might get new perspective or find the courage to face down our enemies. Amid the hustle and bustle of today, the wilderness offered limited access to technology and other distractions; again a perfect setting to seek God’s face. (Remember, it was in the wilderness that Jesus was tempted; yet He stayed focused – Forty days later, He was ministered to by angels!!! Definitely a great place to connect with God!) And, for us who get distracted by things and people, this may be the perfect spot for us to focus – no one around, just us, nature and our God.
Interestingly, Jesus is mentioned as being flocked by crowds with multiple demands of his time and gifts – a bit of healing, a miracle here and there, signs and wonders, preaching, role modeling and capacity building, and occasional theological debates with the religious leaders of the day. Those public events were interspersed with private meetings, training sessions with the disciples, as well as brief interludes when He sought others out. Jesus didn’t suffer from burn-out despite the demands on His time and person, because He made time to go recharge in a space where few would seek Him out.
This, for me, begs the question: where is our wilderness and how often do we go there to pray?
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
