Old Testament Reading: Psalm 118:19-25
Here we see Jesus getting away to pray alone at night (vs. 12). Jesus often chose the lonely hours when people were asleep to be alone with his Father in prayer. Jesus was not a closeted Christian during the day; he was with his disciples and the crowds ministering to them the truth, love, and power of God. Yet, we see Jesus embracing a lifestyle of sacrifice (here sacrificing sleep) to be with God - a source of greater rest and strength than sleep.
It is interesting to note Jesus' persitance in prayer; it says " ...all night he he continued in prayer to God." (vs. 12) Jesus was not just thanking his Father for the day and asking him to bless his tomorrow. He was earnestly seeking direction and power from God. Many disciples were following him; Jesus' time (like all of ours) was limited. He needed to know who to invest in who to spend the majority of his time with. God reveals who they are to Jesus and the 12 disciples are formed into a group that would launch the church and shake the cities of the Roman world with the gospel. All because Jesus prayed!
We also see that Jesus came back with his team (vs. 17) in a whole new level of supernatural power (vs. 19). This too is the result of prayer. We may long for the gospel to shake our cities but are we willing to imitate Jesus in the place of prayer? We must if Christ's longings in us for the lost in our cities is to be fulfilled. As we pray, he will guide our steps and freely give us of his Spirit's power.
Today, we can pray in accordance with Psalm 118:19-25. Thanking Jesus that he has opened up the gates of righteousness to us through his death on the cross. He was the stone the builders rejected, but it was God's purpose that he would be rejected and crucified so that he might be glorified. His apparent defeat meant that we became recipients of God's unmerited grace - we enjoy the spoils of his victory (as the widow and Naaman did) an unhindered relationship with God now and the promise of life forever!
Finally, we pray for success. Success in Christ's character being formed in us. (Luke 6:20-42) That the fruit of his Spirit would be begin to grow in our lives and that we would be doers of his word (vs. 43-49).
"Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!" (Psalm 118:25)
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