Cultivating a Deeper Prayer Life - A Theology of Prayer

Study 3

Text: Mark 1:35; Luke 4:42

HOW DID THE 40-DAY SOJOURN IN THE WILDERNESS AFFECT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?

The Sojourn of the Lord Jesus Christ in the wilderness left an indelible mark on His life. He would never be the same again! A deep and meaningful Prayer-Life would now be a significant part of His daily life and ministry!

Two particular aspects of the Prayer-Life of the Lord Jesus stand out!

The Lord Jesus would always love “the solitary place.”
He would always make time for prayer!

OBSERVATIONS OF THE GOSPEL WRITERS

The Gospel writer Mark made this observation of the Prayer-Life of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Now in the morning, having arisen a long while before daylight,
He went out and departed to a solitary place;
And there He prayed.”
Mark 1:35

The Gospel writer Luke also made a similar observation. He wrote,
“Now when it was day, He departed
and went into a deserted place…”
Luke 4:42

A careful comparative study of these two passages would reveal the fact that both Gospel writers were making observations of the practice of the Lord Jesus Christ, with reference to His Prayer life.

Mark emphasized the Prayer aspect while Luke focused on the fact that Jesus would choose to be in a “deserted place”- obviously for the purpose of meditation and prayer!

DO YOU LIKE “THE SOLITARY PLACE?”

Very few people seem to like the kinds of places the Lord Jesus loved. He would minister from morning till the sun set, teaching, counselling, and healing too! The workload was always heavy! He loved His Disciples. He loved the multitudes too. But His soul longed for those few moments when He could be alone with His Father in prayer!

Have you cultivated a love for the solitary place? Have you developed a love for the wilderness where He could pour out His soul to His beloved Heavenly Father?

Perhaps, we may not be able to find an actual, physical place where we can have solitude. However, we can, we must find that quiet closet space where we can cut out the hustle and bustle of the daily grind of life and somehow find sweet communion with God our Heavenly Father!

Whether we succeed or we fail would depend on whether we can answer the first question. “Do we like solitude where we can commune with God without feeling rushed?”

PRAYING IN SOLITUDE

There is nothing wrong with praying with people! In fact, if we can actually find a prayer partner with whom we can pray, that would be a special blessing indeed.

Nevertheless, there is a need to cultivate a love for solitude where we can commune with God our Father. How can we cultivate this love for solitary-prayer?

1. It will take a lot of spiritual maturity to love solitude

2. Solitude is not sought for it’s own sake. It is sought only with reference to a love for uninterrupted communion with God in prayer.

3. The place and time we choose to meet with the Lord can then be called, “The Trysting Place.” It is called thus, because you have chosen and set the place, the time and reason why you wish to meet with God.

4. You enter into that trysting place with a definite sense of purpose. It is to commune with God, and not to “enjoy the scenery.”

5. Be prepared for a humble beginning. The first few times of meeting with the Lord may not last very long. You may not be used to communing with God for along periods of time.

6. Don’t be discouraged. Prayer in the solitary place will grow on you.

7. God willing, in time to come, you will have the spiritual discipline to follow the footsteps of the Lord Jesus… “having risen a long while before daylight; He went out and departed to a solitary place, and there He prayed…” (Mark 1:35).

~ Pastor Charlie Tan ~