Today’s Key Scripture (all references NKJV unless otherwise noted:
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.
——Luke 6:12
The wonderful Bible teacher Oswald Chambers once wrote, “Prayer is the way that the life of God in us is nourished.”
The importance that God places on prayer is a thread that runs throughout the entire Bible. Let me list a few from the New Testament Gospels for your personal study and encouragement:
- Jesus prayed alone. (Luke 5:16)
- Jesus prayed with others. (Luke 9:28)
- Jesus prayed for others. (Matthew 19:13-14, John 17:9)
- Jesus taught to be persistent in prayer. (Luke 18:1)
- Jesus dedicated long periods of time to prayer. (Luke 6:12)
- Jesus also taught that brevity in prayer was acceptable. (Matthew 6:7)
- Jesus often sought to get away from public places in order to spend time in prayer and fellowship with God, His Father. (Luke 6:12)
- Jesus prayed with heartfelt supplication. (John 17)
- Jesus prayed with an understanding of the deep spiritual nature and purpose of prayer. (John 4:24)
Even on the cross of Calvary, our Savior spoke openly and fervently to God the Father, including these words, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:36). To bystanders, this prayer might have signaled the acceptance of overwhelming defeat, but Jesus knew of the victory just ahead!
Why did Jesus Christ teach so much about prayer? Perhaps Billy Graham said it best: “We are to pray in times of adversity, lest we become faithless and unbelieving. We are to pray in times of prosperity, lest we become boastful and proud. We are to pray in times of danger, lest we become fearful and doubting. We are to pray in times of security, lest we become self-sufficient.”
A Prayer for Today:
Almighty Father, help me to better understand prayer and dwelling in Your presence. I want to be able to pray in times of adversity, in times of prosperity, in times of danger, and in times of security. I want to be nourished of You in every way, every day. I pray this in the Name above all names, Amen!
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