Get Alone And Pray

Get Alone And Pray

In the message "The Courts of God" we saw how the presence of God is
to be cherished above all else. We considered that not even a
thousand days in an earthly paradise can compare to a single day in
the presence of God. And yet, though we may understand the value of
His presence, we seldom make the decisions or exercise the discipline
required to enter.

Luke 5:15-16
"The news about Him spread all the more, so the crowds of people came
to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often
withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

Jesus had a relationship with the Father which can only be described
as absolute perfection; "If you really knew Me, you would know My
Father as well. Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John
14:7,9). We long for and desperately seek the presence of God, but
Jesus Christ IS the very presence of God: "In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word
became flesh and made His dwelling among us" (John 1:1,14).

And though He had perfect union with the Father, created the entire
Universe, and demonstrated complete control over the elements of
nature as He "rebuked the wind and the raging waters" (Luke 8:24),
Jesus still made time to be alone with the Father in prayer. Why?

Prior to the important decision of choosing His twelve apostles,
Jesus "went out to a mountainside and spent the night praying" (Luke
6:12). On the night before He was crucified, Jesus was in such
anguish that He prayed until "His sweat was like drops of blood
falling to the ground" (Luke 22:44). Jesus, through His life and
death, taught us how we ought to relate to God...and it's a lesson we
must not ignore!

If Jesus, who is Perfection, demonstrated such need of prayer, how
much more necessary is it for us who contain so many flaws and so
easily drift away from God. We cannot wave our hand to calm the
storm, we must pray for patience and the strength to endure, and
relentlessly ask for His help. We are to live in such constant
communion with God that we "pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17),
even as we drive in busy traffic, manage multiple assignments, or
care for noisy children.

But each of us must also set aside time, which is "often" and
regular, where we can withdraw to a quiet place. Yes, the presence
of God can be found in the midst of our busyness, but we all need
times of quiet where we can be refreshed and receive direction -
times when we can simply lift our hearts to God and say "Thank
You!" Let's develop and maintain the discipline of entering the
courts of His presence. Let's regularly set aside times of quiet to
get alone and pray.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries

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