Prayer and Praying (5)

"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 NKJV)

Among the acts of Jesus during His earth walk (Matt. 14:23, Matt. 9:35, Acts 10:38) am sure one of the reasons He did some things is to lay a precedence for those who would believe in Him; by His lifestyle He showed us how we are to live the new life. 

"For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:" (I Peter 2:21 NKJV)

1 John 2:6 readily comes to mind:

"Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did." (1 John 2:6 NIV)

One of the most prominent among the acts of Jesus is His regular solitary prayers. Jesus tarried in protracted private prayers. It's erroneous to think that prayer mountains or wilderness prayers is meant for people who have 'stubborn' challenges. Jesus did not have any problem, He came to solve the problem of humanity (Luke 19:10, John 10:10) yet "...He went out to a mountain to pray" (Luke 6:12):  "...He departed to the mountain to pray." (Mark 6:46) 

"So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed." (Luke 5:16 NKJV)

see also Mark 1:35. Don't you think that there must be something indispensable about solitary prayers that made Jesus form an habit out of it.

You sure don't have to go to a mountain before you can tarry in prayers, wherever you choose, you will do well to appreciate that regular prolonged prayers is inevitable for a successful Christian life. From time to time, a believer ought to set aside some hours outside his regular prayer time when he stays alone with God. Five (5) hours is not too short neither will Ten (10) hours and even more be too long. 

Mark this: there is no such thing as praying for long hours without knowing it: prayer cannot be a hubby, it is labor! Consider this:

 "Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." (Colossians 4:12 NKJV)

While you tarry in prayer - you have the responsibility to keep your mind from wandering, you will get to a point where tiredness and fatigue will set in, hunger could even start raging while you stay alert in order to keep other appetites of the body in subjection. You cannot get by all these without knowing it; you will really need to persevere (Eph. 6:18) if you must continue.

Oh that the prayer closets will be filled again with men of great passion who are desperate for nothing but the manifestation of the glory of God. Such practice as this energizes the heart and makes the heart ready and fit for the master's use. If you must be used by God, you must be ready to give yourself over to prayer.

He who says He abides in Christ must pray like Christ prayed.