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).  Either Jesus needed to pray because of the limitation of

His human nature, or He was teaching us how we ought to relate to God.

Either way, 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 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.