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Jesus had a relationship with His Father.
Luke 5:15-16
"The news about Him spread all the more, so the crowds of people came
to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often
withdrew to lonely places and prayed."
Jesus had a relationship with the Father which can only be described as
absolute perfection; "If you really knew Me, you would know My Father
as well. Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:7,9). We
long for and desperately seek the presence of God, but Jesus Christ IS
the very presence of God: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made His
dwelling among us" (John 1:1,14).
And though He had perfect union with the Father, created the entire
Universe, and demonstrated complete control over the elements of nature
as He "rebuked the wind and the raging waters" (Luke 8:24), Jesus still
made time to be alone with the Father in prayer. Why?
Prior to the important decision of choosing His twelve apostles, Jesus
"went out to a mountainside and spent the night praying" (Luke
6:12). On the night before He was crucified, Jesus was in such anguish
that He prayed until "His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the
ground" (Luke 22:44). Jesus, through His life and death, taught us how
we ought to relate to God...and it's a lesson we must not ignore!
If Jesus, who is Perfection, demonstrated such need of prayer, how much
more necessary is it for us who contain so many flaws and so easily
drift away from God. We cannot wave our hand to calm the storm, we
must pray for patience and strength to endure, and relentlessly ask for
His help. We are to live in such constant communion with God that we
"pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17), even as we drive in busy
traffic, manage multiple assignments, or care for noisy children.
But each of us must also set aside time, which is "often" and regular,
where we can withdraw to a quiet place. Yes, the presence of God can
be found in the midst of our busyness, but we all need times of quiet
where we can be refreshed and receive direction - times when we can
simply lift our hearts to God and say "Thank You!" Let's develop and
maintain the discipline of entering the courts of His presence. Let's
regularly set aside times of quiet to get alone and pray.
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