A Night of Prayer

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.

~Luke 6:12

When I was growing up within the Seventh-day Adventist Church, I was taught in Sabbath School that the proper way to pray was to get down on my knees, fold my hands, close my eyes, and then pray.  Doing it some other way seemed to be reserved for emergencies.  When I was a teenager, I didn’t feel that I had the time for all the formalities, and I’m sure there was a time when I didn’t pray much at all. 

College brought a new perspective:  one of my professors called it “Instantaneous Prayer.”  As soon as you had a need, a thought, or an impression to do so, you prayed immediately, regardless of where you were.  “Talking with God as to a friend…” took on a new meaning for me.  If something great happened, I thanked Him immediately.  If I walked into danger or fear, prayers flew out of mind or mouth – which ever was working clearly.  Anywhere, anytime I could speak to God, and He was eagerly waiting to listen.

This verse has always made me feel very inadequate in my prayer life.  There is no way I could pray all night – I would be asleep in 5 minutes [not unlike the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane], and the Lord and I both know that.  I also know that He is happy to hear from me whenever I lift my heart to Him.

Do you have a special time, place, or discipline that works well for you in your prayer experience?  If you do, please share it with me and the others who read this blog.  Helping each other can bring special blessings to all of us.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bear.

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.