Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

November 12– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“[Jesus] went into a mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God.”

—Luke 6:12

If any person could ever have lived without prayer, it was our spotless, perfect Lord Jesus, and yet no one ever prayed like he did! He loved his Father so much that had to be in communion with him. His love for his people was such that he desired to intercede for them often. Jesus eminent prayerfulness is a lesson for us; he has given us an example to follow.

Notice that the time he chose was admirable. It was the hour of silence when the crowd would not disturb him. It was the time of inaction when all but himself had ceased to labor. It was the season when slumber made men forget their troubles and seek relief from their difficulties. While others found rest in sleep, he refreshed himself with prayer.

The place was also well selected. He was alone where no one would intrude. He was free from Pharisaic showiness and rude interruption. Those dark and silent hills provided exactly the speech the Son of God needed to hear. Heaven and earth in midnight stillness heard the groans and sighs of the mysterious one in whom both worlds were blended.

The way he continued his pleadings is remarkable; the long watches of the night were not too long; the cold wind did not chill his devotion; the grim darkness did not darken his faith, or loneliness stop his persistence. We are unable to pray with him for even one hour, but he prayed for us whole nights.

The occasion for this particular prayer is notable; it came after his enemies had been enraged. Prayer was his refuge and comfort. It also came before he called his twelve apostles; prayer was the gate of his enterprise, the precursor of his new work. Shouldn’t we learn from Jesus to resort to special prayer when we are under special trial or when we are planning new endeavors for the Master’s glory? Lord Jesus, teach us to pray. [M&E]