The Pattern of Prayer - Part II

The Lutheran Ambassador - September 23, 1986

                As we observe the prayer-life of our Lord as revealed in the Gospels, we note that there were definite periods during His ministry devoted to prayer. Last time we called attention to His habit of rising early in the morning for prayer. Also we noted occasions when our Lord would spend an entire night in prayer. Now we want to consider the special "seasons" of prayer in His life before and after great events, during busy times, and before great temptations. As disciples of our Lord, we review His prayer life with the earnest intent of following His example as He enables us.

v Before Great Events

                Our Lord prepared for every important crisis or turning point in His life by a prolonged season of prayer. For example, He prayed before His anointing by the Holy Spirit and the subsequent entrance upon His public ministry (Luke 3:21, 22). He prayed before choosing the twelve disciples (Luke 6:12, 13). He prayed before starting out on an evangelistic tour (Mark 1:35-38). He prayed before announcing to the Twelve His approaching death (Luke 9:18, 21-22). He prayed before the great consummation of His life at the cross (Luke 22:39-46).
                Our Lord's practice of prayer preparation is a tremendous lesson to us. Whenever any crisis or decision of life is seen to be approaching, we should prepare by a season of very definite prayer to God. We should take plenty of time for this prayer.

v After Great Events

                Our Lord not only prayed before the great events and victories of His life; He also prayed after its great achievements and important crises. When He had fed the five thousand with the five loaves and two fishes, and the multitudes desired to make Him king, He sent them away and went up into a mountain to pray (Matthew 14:23, John 5:15). There He spent hours in prayer. We are more prone to pray before the great events of our lives rather than after them. If we could humble ourselves before our Lord after the achievements and give Him the glory, we could go on to greater victories. As it is, we are often secretly congratulating ourselves and thus we fail to praise the Lord.

v During Busy Times

                When His life was unusually busy, our Lord gave special time to prayer. He would withdraw during such times from the multitudes that thronged about Him and go into the wilderness to pray. For example, we read in Luke 5:15,16. "But so much the more went abroad the report concerning Him; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed of their infirmities. But He withdrew Himself in the deserts, and prayed. (Am. St.)
                Some of us think we are so busy we find no time for prayer or it's at best quite short. Apparently, the busier our Lord's life became, the more He prayed. Sometimes He had no time to eat ( Mark 3:20); sometimes He had no time for needed rest or sleep (Mark 6:31, 33, 45), but He always took time to pray, and the more work crowded His schedule, the more He prayed.

v Before Great Temptation

                As our Lord drew nearer to the cross and realized that it was to be the final test of His life, He went out into the garden of Gethsemane to pray (Matthew 26:36). The calmness and dignity He displayed in meeting the terrible onslaught of Calvary was the outcome of the struggle, agony, and victory of Gethsemane.
                Many temptations come upon us quickly and unannounced. All that we can do in those moments is lift our prayers to God for help. Many other temptations can be seen approaching from the distance and in such cases the victory should be won before the temptation really reaches us.
                While we speak of "definite periods" for prayer, our whole life is to be prayerful (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18). Though we cannot be alone and on our knees constantly, we can live with an "upward look", walking so habitually in God's presence that prayer comes as the most natural expression of our hearts.