Evening, November 12, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

“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

If ever one born of woman might have lived without prayer, it was our spotless, perfect Lord, and yet none was ever so much in prayerful entreaty as he! Such was his love to his Father, that he loved to the highest degree to be in communion with him: such was his love for his people, that he desired to be often in intercession for them. The fact of this eminent prayerfulness of Jesus is a lesson for us–he has given us an example that we may follow in his steps. The time he chose was admirable; it was the hours of silence, when the crowd would not disturb him; the time of inaction, when all but himself had ceased to labor; and the season when slumber made men forget their afflictions, and end their requests to him for relief. While others found rest in sleep, he refreshed himself with prayer. The place was also very well selected. He was alone where none would intrude, where none could observe: consequently, he was free from Pharisaic pretension and discourteous interruption. Those dark and silent hills were a fitting chapel for the Son of God. Heaven and earth in midnight stillness heard the cries and sighs of the mysterious Being in whom both worlds were blended. The protraction of his earnest requests is remarkable; the long watches were not too long; the cold wind did not chill his devotion; the grim darkness did not darken his faith, or loneliness curb his persistence. We cannot watch with him one hour, but he watched for us whole nights. The occasion for this prayer is notable; it was after his enemies had been enraged — prayer was his refuge and support; it was before he sent forth the twelve apostles — prayer was the gate of his enterprise, the herald of his new work. Should we not learn from Jesus to resort to special prayer when we are under unusual trial, or contemplate fresh endeavors for the Master’s glory? Lord Jesus, teach us to pray.