The priority of prayer
Jesus was about to decide on the twelve men who would be his closest disciples and who would found the Christian church. So he went away to a quiet place and spent the night in prayer. This was a significant point in his ministry and much would depend on his choice. This night of deep focussed prayer matched the importance of the decisions.
But surely Jesus was one with his Father, in ways that are beyond our understanding, all the time. Every moment of his life was focussed dependence and communication with God. Only in that moment on the cross when he touched the depths of separation would that communication falter.
For us then there are two challenges here. Firstly, Jesus shows us the importance of special times of prayer for important decisions. I suspect most of us recognise this and turn, maybe, to Christian friends, seeking times of deep prayer for guidance and wisdom for big decisions. But the daily on-going walk of prayer, talking to the Lord about all the details of our lives, can be the point of greatest struggle.
Prayer fits awkwardly into a busy life. The very word 'prayer' resonates with slowing down, sitting still, shutting our eyes. It doesn't fit with quick responses and one-line emails, with crowded trains, demanding children, fussing colleagues, deadlines and targets. Prayer ends up swept into hasty getting-up and sleepy last-before-lights-out times.
But Jesus' life was like that as well - full of crowds and clamour, endless demands, dusty roads and temporary homes. So we should practise the presence of God - praying about each day as it happens, the decisions, the joys and disappointments, the individuals we meet, our work - quick prayers, short prayers, as well as longer times of prayer when we can. Paul said, 'Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints' - a real attempt to keep on communicating with the Lord in the middle of a busy world. If we want to follow Jesus, then we really do need to follow him in this.
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