The Pattern of Prayer - Part I

The Lutheran Ambassador - September 9, 1986

                Believing that our Lord has left us an example that we should "follow His steps" (1 Peter 2:21), we are bold to say that His pattern in prayer is so very instructive for us to observe. Additionally, His numerous references to prayer in His ministry of teaching are rich in practical importance for us. As we survey the Gospels, we note in Christ's life and teaching definite periods, definite places, definite forms, and definite settings for prayer. We observe, first of all definite periods.

v The Morning Hours

                In the Gospel of Mark, we read, "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed" (1:35). Our Lord evidently valued the early moments of the day for prayer. Why are the early hours a good time to pray? In the morning the mind is fresh and at its very best (that is, if we have retired early enough the evening before). In the morning, the mind is usually free from distraction. In the morning, the ability to concentrate upon God is more easily possible. Furthermore, when the early hours are spent in prayer, the whole day is anticipated. Strength is received for overcoming the temptations that will come as well for responding to the opportunities to serve the Lord. Someone suggested praying through one's schedule for the day step by step, anticipating the needs in each situation.
                Many of the most effective people for Christ and His Church have followed our Lord's example in morning prayer. Martin Luther, as he faced the great tasks before him each day as the primary leader of the Reformation, said, "I am so busy now that if I did not spend two or three hours each day in prayer, I would not get through the day" (Quoted by Oscar Feucht, The Practice of Prayer, Concordia, 1956, p.22). He felt he needed more time in prayer, the busier the day before him was. No wonder there was such a powerful influence from his ministry.
                Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China, was so fully occupied with the administration of the China Inland Mission during one period of his life that he found it difficult to get time for prayer. He solved that by rising each night at 2 o'clock to prayer until 4 o'clock and then sleep until morning. No wonder he was used so mightily to plant the Church in China.
               
v All-Night Prayer

                During our Lord's earthly ministry, there were sustained periods of prayer on occasion. In the Gospel of Luke, it is recorded. "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" (6:12). We have no reason to expect that all-night prayer was the regular practice of our Lord nor do we know how common his practice was, but there were definitely times when the whole night was given up in prayer.
                Certainly we do not want to follow our Lord's example in a legalistic way. If one imagines he is going to win God's favor by long prayers, he is legalistic. But there may be times of special need when we will be driven to our knees for longer periods of prayer.
                This was true also in the life of Luther. There is an account of a spy who followed Luther to a hotel one night and roomed right next door to him. The next day the spy informed the one who had employed him that Luther prayed nearly all night, and that he could never conquer a man like that.
                We will continue our study of our Lord's pattern in prayer in the next issue. He has left us an example that we should "follow His steps".