Today’s devotion covers Luke 6:12-16 which covers Jesus choosing His twelve disciples. We will focus on verse 12.
“It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12. (Emphasis added.)
We will look at two things.
First, why did Jesus choose “this time” to go away to the mountain to pray?
It could be the importance of choosing His twelve disciples. But, we should also look at the context. The immediate preceding verse states: “But they themselves were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.” Luke 6:11. Therefore, Jesus could have chosen this time, because of this strong threat to His safety. It was a good time to go away to the mountain to pray for either reason.
Our family reads Psalm 121, “the traveling Psalm”, just before we leave for a vacation. Verses 1 and 2 tell us why a mountain may be a particular good place to pray. “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2.
But, I live in Florida where there are no mountains, and you also may live either where there are no mountains or there are only a few and too far away. Although it certainly may be a good place (a mountain) to pray, I think that it is more important for us just to get away to pray.
We are commanded to “pray without ceasing;” 1 Thessalonians 5:17, but I think there are special times of great and special need when it is best to get away to pray. As one example, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray just before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. You all can think of other times of great and special need (both in Scripture and your own personal lives) when it is best to get away to pray.
I have told you that I have experienced financial troubles before. When I felt as if these financial troubles were overwhelming me, I would go to a park in nearby Gulfport along the bay where there was a bench right in front of a seawall. There, I would sit, look out over the water, and pour out my heart to God in prayer.
Second, notice that Jesus spent the whole night in prayer.
We, especially me, tend to pray for too short of a time. Again at the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus chided His disciples. “And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:14.
We, especially me, also tend to pray too little at night. I go right to sleep. Even when I toss and turn, I also too little use that opportunity to get up and read the Bible and pray. But, when I do get up and pray during the night, I notice that I can pray better. There are less distractions around. It is quieter. I can focus better. When I do get up and pray, it gives me great peace, and I go back to the bed and sleep like a baby.
Maybe, some of you have spent the whole night in prayer, and you can write or speak about it. I have not done so, but I imagine there are special benefits for doing so.
In conclusion, I think that we can even pray that “we pray better”. We can trust our God Who continually restores our souls and guides us in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23:3.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 