Don’t you wonder how Jesus spent all night in prayer with the Father? All night?
Years ago, when I had a severely depressed friend, I promised to spend an hour in prayer for her, pleading with God to meet the deepest needs of her heart. In about ten minutes, I had said all I had to say. But I had committed to an hour, so I expanded my prayer, repeated some things, and paused more often. It felt like a very long hour!
So, praying all night seems impossible to me! And the gospel writers indicate that it was Jesus’ habit to spend long hours in prayer.
Then I realized that for Jesus and God it was, very likely, a two-way conversation. Jesus talked and God responded, like a loving father and son would do. If you’re with someone you love, there are times when you talk and talk, then wonder where the time went.
That’s probably what it was like between Jesus and God. Intimate conversation. And God, with his heavenly perspective, giving direction, guiding Jesus’ ministry, telling him what to do next.
Jesus showed us how we humans can relate to our Father in heaven. Prayer is a big part of that: Asking for and then receiving direction, comfort, hope, empowerment, and provision. If it’s lovingly intimate and involves both speaking and listening, our short prayers tend to get longer. Jesus showed us what to do. It’s up to us to figure out how – through relationship with the One to whom we pray.
“O, let the place of secret prayer become to me the most beloved spot on earth.” – Andrew Murray
Walking Together on Holy Ground 
One night on our homeless journey we had such an opportunity to pray all night. Not that we wanted it.
We just left a campground because we had no more money. We took our gear but because we hadn’t eaten for a few days our family of four was weak and didn’t want to travel far. There was a nearby park where we placed our stuff under a bold sign that proclaimed no sleeping was allowed.
That night the law would not let us sleep. The sign along with a police presence meant we had to stay awake the whole time. We sat at a picnic table and decided to pray instead. We prayed for many hours and God gave us a vision that helped us see the importance of our prayers. By about 3 or 4 AM my daughters lay their heads on the table and fell asleep. My wife and I did not have the heart to wake them and so kept praying. It was a hard night but at least we spent time with Jesus.
Blessings,
Homer Les
Uncompromising Faith
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An amazing story. So many things can keep us up all night, but this is a unique one in my experience. How are things going now?
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We are doing well now. The worst part of the homelessness was between October 2011 to Feb 2015. Since then God has provided us with some stability. For the past years we have been living in a motel room supported as missionaries of faith. Walking with God in faith certainly is an adventure. May God add to His blessings in your life!
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Sometimes we walk in faith only when God puts us in a position of having to do it! Thanks for sharing your faith walk with us.
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Thank you Beverly, I always appreciate when you send me something to read. I lay many nights, when I can’t sleep, talking and praying to God. It is a precious time. As I sit here on my bed, I am being lazy. I love the snow. ☝️❄️ I am planning on an in home day today. Some work to be done. Going to take time and spend it in the Word. I hope you have a restful day in the Lord. Your new friend, Sheila in Buena Vista❤️
Sent from my iPad
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I am having an in-home day, too. Love it when I can work slowly through my tasks, pausing often to talk to our Father.
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