“One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and He prayed to God all night.” Luke 6:12 NLT)
It could be argued that the most important words in the above verse are “to God.” We’re so prone to believe the catalyst for prayer is our need. The car breaks down, the news from the doctor isn’t good, the money runs out, a job is lost, the list is virtually endless of things that happen in our life that cause us to turn to prayer.
The sad fact in all of that is that God actually becomes a secondary consideration in the process. Our thoughts seem only to turn to God after our resources are spent or we realize the issue is too big for us to tackle alone. Why is that? Part of it stems from our selfish nature. We’re geared to think “I” can fix this! But the sad reality is, it often takes a long time for that gut reflex to change.
That’s why it takes an intentional decision (likely a series of decisions) to turn that kind of thinking around. So, where do we begin? Ironically, in prayer. Conversation with Jesus is the best and only place we’ll find an answer to what must be a God-oriented question. Trying to “fix” a spiritual problem by human means is similar to jumping in the deep end of a pool to learn to swim, it can be disastrous.
Prayer is a learned behavior, but one that must be learned in the right environment; otherwise, we’ll continue to struggle with how it works. Prayer is a means to an end, not an end in and of itself. It’s essentially a conversation with God, not in an effort to get something from Him, but to give something to Him. It’s too often like someone going to their spouse, not because they love them and want to give something to them, but to get something from them.
God is a loving Father who always desires to spend time with us. We ALWAYS have His undivided attention, but that’s something we must learn to give Him. That’s why it catches me by surprise when someone I know loves the Lord, speaks about their “God time,” as if it’s a specific time set aside to spend with God, which, of course, it is, but with the implication that it has a specific beginning and ending.
My time with the Lord begins with worship, thanksgiving, and recognition that I have no right to speak His name except with His permission. Then, among the first things I share with Him are the numerous family members, loved ones, friends, neighbors and others who need to be saved. Certainly, that is sacred “God Time,” but that’s only the beginning, not the end. For me, and I’m quite sure many others, our conversation continues on some level every waking moment.
There’s not a single second I don’t want to be aware of His presence and, regardless of what I’m doing, be sensitive that He’s not only with me, I’m with Him. Even as I type these words, He’s on my mind and I sense my dependence upon Him. The reality of the fact that “apart from Him I am nothing and can do nothing” is engravened on my consciousness. To lose our focus on Jesus is to wander in darkness and to become ineffective in whatever we’re doing.
Prayer on some levels is a constant communication. I may not be on my knees with my eyes closed, but my spirit is longing to be one with Him, not only communicating my need of Him, but being ever aware of His love for and devotion to me. To not be “in prayer” is to lose focus and to become distracted from the “real” task at hand, whatever else we may be doing.
I won’t lie, it’s taken me years to even begin to learn this vital aspect of prayer, but my point in sharing isn’t to berate you or brag on myself, but to encourage you and me to understand that it’s a process. That we are continually learning to train our heart and mind to long for such oneness with the Lord that it becomes a constant consideration in every circumstance of our lives. When we know He’s always with us, the One with whom we’re in constant conversation, we don’t have to grope in the darkness when the proverbial “lights” go out.
Ron Hutchcraft wrote: “Prayer begins by recognizing who you’re talking to, not what you’re asking for.” (See A Word for You No Garbage in God’s Throne Room – 08-12-24)
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 