Luke 6:12 - Praying All Night.
Luke 6:12 (NLT) One day soon afterward Jesus
went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to
God all night.
INTRODUCTION
In the estimation of the rabbis, it was
the sum of religion to be always in a bustle of
activity. They depended upon some outward performance
to show their superior piety. Thus they
separated their souls from God, and built themselves
up in self-sufficiency. The same dangers still
exist. As activity increases, and men become
successful in doing any work for God, there is danger
of trusting to human plans and methods. There
is a tendency to pray less, and to have less
faith. Like the disciples, we are in danger of
losing sight of our dependence on God, and seeking
to make a saviour of our activity. We need to
look constantly to Jesus, realizing that it is
His power which does the work. While we are to
labor earnestly for the salvation of the lost, we
must also take time for meditation, for prayer,
and for the study of the word of God. Only the
work accomplished with much prayer, and
sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the end
prove to have been efficient for good.
No other life was ever so crowded with
labor and responsibility as was that of Jesus; yet
how often He was found in prayer. How constant
was His communion with God. Again and again in
the history of His earthly life are found
records such as these: "Rising up a great while
before day, He went out, and departed into a
solitary place, and there prayed." "Great multitudes
came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of
their infirmities. And He withdrew Himself into
the wilderness, and prayed." "And it came to
pass in those days that He went out into a
mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer
to God." [2 Mark 1:35; Luke 5:15, 16; 6:12.]
In a life wholly devoted to the good of
others, the Saviour found it necessary to withdraw
from the thoroughfares of travel and from the
throng that followed Him day after day. He must
turn aside from a life of ceaseless activity and
contact with human needs, to seek retirement and
unbroken communion with His Father. As one with us, a
sharer in our needs and weaknesses, He was wholly
dependent upon God, and in the secret place of prayer
He sought divine strength, that He might go
forth braced for duty and trial. DA362,3
COMMENTARY PEARL
My friend recently climbed Mount St.
Helens and reached the summit. She said, It was
a very challenging climb but truly
rewarding. Friends congratulated her for the feat,
since she was in her fifties. Shed also climbed
the peak in chilly, windy weather. I had to
push myself to reach the summit, she said.
With jubilation, she added, Thank You, Lord,
for giving me the determination to complete the
climb!
I also know other people who love to hike
in the mountains. Aside from getting good
exercise and reaping its health benefits, being close
to nature has a calming effect on ones soul.
Reaching the summit gives one the opportunity to
experience an awesome view. But I also sense that being
in an isolated place like the mountains makes
us more sensitive to Jesus. Alone with Jesus,
surrounded by His creation and away from the noisy
crowd, we can become more in tune with Him.
Jesus would often go to a mountain by
Himself or with His disciples to pray to His Father.
When His disciples got too busy, He urged them to
go to a secluded place where they could rest. I
sense that call too. So every morning I step out
of the house and breathe in deep gulps of fresh
air. I take in the lush scenery as I look at the
trees. Then I spend quiet time with Jesus, hearing
Him speak as I read the Bible. Its a
refreshing experience to be in touch with Him. by
Marlene Legaspi-Munar
Faith Step: Find a quiet place where you
can pray regularly. Consider scheduling a
personal retreat this year in a place surrounded by
nature. [Mornings With Jesus 2020 Devotional by
Guideposts and Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
Great teachers of our faith tell us that
prayer is the life breath of the believer. Are you
easily winded these days? Jesus needed a place to
be completely alone, where he could concentrate
and focus His attention on God the Father. He
chose a mountain. We need this same
concentration. Some of us pray as we drive, others send up
arrow-prayers throughout the day. Neither is wrong. But
God deserves our utmost respect and effort.
Prayer of that kind comes only when we give time to
it, and place for it. When Jesus was praying
like this, He might pray all through the night.
Have you? Has anything ever been that important?
There is a private and wonderful place the
believer finds when he or she purposes to persevere
in prayer. We should not struggle like Jacob,
who wrestled and lost his hip for it. Rather, we
should set our face to communicate with our God. If
you will do this, you will find that special,
mysterious place of close communion. And you will not
want to leave it. [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom]
Do you find prayer tiring? Prayer is
communicating with the only perfect Being there is. It
seems that as we pray, it takes a lot of energy:
energy to stay focused; to continue to listen when
you hear nothing; and sometimes energy when you
yourself are not clear about the matter you are
bringing before God. King David, in his song of
praise for the successful transfer of the ark of
the covenant to Jerusalem, shares in his song
his secret of being the only man whom God
called, "a man after My own heart." David says to
ceaselessly follow after God, and His strength! It is
in God's strength that we can persevere in
prayer. As we access this strength, we are able to
seek God without tiring. David goes on to tell
us to reflect on the wonders God has wrought on
behalf of His people, and you, including His Word.
If you want to communicate with God, and
overcome your own weakness and the distractions of
the enemy, seek God's strength. You'll find it!
[In His Time; Walk With Wisdom]
Jesus went apart to cure his loneliness.
He needed the silence of eternity as a
thirsting man in the desert needs water. And he
essentially needed the silence of eternity which was
interpreted by love. For he who was love incarnate had
his own needs to love and be loved. His deepest
need, and likewise ours, could be met only by God.
Ultimately no human being, no matter how
close or dear, can fully satisfy our need for
love. Those who imagine they can end up devouring
one another.
Jesus longed for time apart to bask and
sunbathe in his Father's love, to soak in it and
repose in it. No matter how drained he felt, it
seems that this deep, silent communion refreshed
him more than a good night's sleep...
Human love and friendship indeed enrich
our lives and partly meet this need - but not
entirely, for at the core of our being [is] ...a love
longing for God which will only be met by converting
our loneliness into deep solitude, by fleeing
the sweets and cordials that may give temporary
satisfaction, and finding the real thing in Him.
[Margaret Magdalen; Time with God devotional SB]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
Matthew 6:9-13 - The Lord's Prayer - part 1
- Our father which art in heaven, hallowed
be...
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20051205-1009.html
Matthew 6:9-13 - The Lord's Prayer - part 2
- Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done ...
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20051207-1002.html
Matthew 6:9-13 - The Lord's Prayer - part 3
- Give us this day our daily bread.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20051209-0822.html
Matthew 6:9-13 - The Lord's Prayer - part 4
- And forgive us our debts, as we forgive ...
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20051212-1024.html
Matthew 6:9-13 - The Lord's Prayer - part 5
- And lead us not into temptation, but deliver
us
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20051214-0918.html
Matthew 6:9-13 - The Lord's Prayer - part 6
- For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and
..
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20051216-1048.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio (currently live):
https://bible.awr.org/the-warning/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug
Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
