Do We Make Time to Pray?

February 24, 2016 at 5:00 a.m.

"So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed." Luke 5:16

How many of you make time (or set aside time) each day to meditate in God's Word and pray? Do you set aside an hour each day? a half hour? or even 15 minutes? How many of you spend at least five minutes a day reading God's Word and praying? How many of you have family devotions? Bedtime prayers? Mealtime prayers? Are you too busy to set aside even a small portion of each day to commune with the LORD God, your Maker and Redeemer?

Consider the example of Jesus. When the word of His mighty miracles spread, crowds of people constantly gathered around Him to hear Him and to be healed of various illnesses and infirmities (cf. Luke 5:15; Mark 1:32-39). Who could be busier than our Lord Jesus? And yet Jesus still made time to pray!

As the Bible says, "So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed." Jesus was retiring into the deserts and praying. It was a regular and ongoing practice of Jesus to set aside time for prayer to His Father in heaven.

As Jesus' disciples and followers, should we not follow His example? He would have us continue in His Word and to let that Word dwell in us richly that we may know of Him and always trust in Him for our salvation (cf. John 8:31-32; Col. 1:19-23; 3:16).

Jesus won for us the great privilege of coming to God in prayer, and He enjoins us to pray (cf. 1 John 5:14-15; Luke 11:9-13; 18:1ff.; Matt. 26:41; John 16:24). Should we not make or set aside time for prayer and meditation in God's life-giving Word?

O dearest Jesus, pardon us for neglecting to set aside time to hear Your Word and pray. Graciously fill us with Your Holy Spirit and move us to make time for prayer -- to set aside time, to withdraw from our busy schedules, and pray and consider the glorious truths of Your Word! Grant this to us for the sake of Your holy life and innocent sufferings and death in our stead. Amen.

Editorial on 02/24/2016