“But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray” (Lk. 5:15-16 ESV).
Success. Busyness. Tyranny of the Urgent. All three hit Jesus. Success: “even more the report about him went abroad…” Jesus becomes a household word. Busyness: “great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed…” Jesus has increasing crowds to tend to and teach. Tyranny of the Urgent: everywhere Jesus turns there is a life begging to be touched.
Yet what does Jesus do? “But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” Luke’s language indicates this was a habit. Regularly, Jesus would step away from the spotlight, the to-do list, and the legitimate needs of others in order to pray to the Father.
What is keeping you from prayer: Success? Busyness? Tyranny of the Urgent? Walk away from it today, and every day for the remainder of these 20 days. Every day for these 20 days spend significant time in prayer. Trust that God will still be at work even when it seems you are not. Believe that your need for prayer is more urgent than anything else today. Pray for God’s work at Highland as if everything depended upon those prayers.
