Without a doubt, today's church needs more agonizing (in prayer) and less organizing (in yet more programming).
Here's a verse about Jesus' prayer life: "It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God" (Luke 6:12).
Was Jesus busy? Certainly. Just a cursory reading of His life tells us that. He was famous. The crowds were always coming at Him. But, "at that time" He went off to pray. This was an INTENTIONAL prayer time. Do I intend to pray each day? Do I have seasons of prayer scheduled in?
Did Jesus have a prayer closet? He didn't even have a house. And so, He found a place - "off to the mountain."
It was quiet. He was uninterruptedly alone with His Father. He was INSISTENT in pursuing a quality place for prayer.
Was Jesus satisfied with merely occasional and quick prayers? We call such ejaculatory praying. It's praying on the run or in the midst of busyness. And such brief praying is surely acceptable and to be engaged in. Paul may have had such in mind when he admonished us to pray without ceasing. Nehemiah prayed this way and often. The renowned Rowland Hill liked this kind of prayer because, as he said, "it reached heaven before the Devil could shoot it down." But Jesus didn't stop with this (and probably Nehemiah didn't either). However, on this occasion, and probably often, "He spent the whole night in prayer." While a drop of prayer can bring an ocean of mercy, an entire night in prayer allows an ocean of fellowship with one's heavenly Father. Such is INDEFATIGABLE or resolute prayer. Martin Luther said "Prayer is the sweat of the soul."
A preacher with the unusual name of Christmas Evans colorfully remarked: "Prayer is the rope up in the belfry; we pull it, and it rings the bell up in heaven." Jesus' concept of prayer was deep in the conviction that therein He laid hold of His Father in heaven. He prayed often, long and fervently.
Do I? Do we?
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