2009-12-22

The Importance of Prayer to Christ

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor. (Luk 6:12-16 NKJV)


Before Jesus chose the 12 apostles He prayed in solitude all night. Christ was always focused on the will of His Father, and when important decisions such as this need to be made He spends much time in prayer. Not only is this time spent in prayer, but it’s spent specifically in private prayer…time alone with His Father.

If I could think of anyone who might not have needed to pray, it would be Christ. Yet we see example after example of how important prayer was to Him. Clearly, if Christ placed such an importance on prayer, we have no reason for thinking that we are fine without it.

If I could think of anyone who’s schedule was too hectic to allow time for prayer, it would be Christ. He was constantly pressed by the crowds, pushed even to the point of having to teach them from a boat. He constantly had the sick and possessed brought to Him for healing. He was under attack from the religious leaders of His day. As a matter of fact, Christ had such a hectic schedule that He had nowhere to lay His head…

…"Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." (Mat 8:20 NKJV)


In light of this our excuses for not praying as we should seem to be quite ridiculous. We often hear things such as...

“I just finished working two shifts and I’m tired.”
“I have too much to do…I just don’t have time to pray.”

How outrageous to think that these are valid excuses to keep us from prayer. In reality, these are the very things that should drive us to pray. We NEED God’s strength to accomplish what He would have us to accomplish…it’s not a recommendation it’s a requirement. Yet we strive and work with only our strength, and that because we won’t go to God in prayer. And then we complain about not having strength enough to go further.

When I see Christ in the garden praying to the point of sweating blood I’m convicted at the lack of devotion in my own prayer life.

And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luk 22:44 NKJV)


Here the Lord’s rebuke of the apostles in the garden…

Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? (Mat 26:40 NKJV)


Is our Lord happy with our prayer life or would we receive a similar rebuke? While Jesus sweat blood in prayer, do we even scuff up our knees?

If we find ourselves lacking in our devotion to prayer let’s make a commitment right here and now to trust in God more fully. Realizing that we can do nothing without Him and everything with Him, let’s get serious about this spiritual discipline. And by God’s grace we will change the world for His glory!

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