Spurgeon: November PM
* 11/12/PM
"And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a
mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."
--Luke 6:12
If ever one of woman born might have lived without prayer, it
was our spotless, perfect a Lord, and yet none was ever so much
in supplication as He! Such was His love to His Father, that He
loved much to be in communion with Him: such His love for His
people, that He desired to be much in intercession for them.
The fact of this eminent prayerfulness of Jesus is a lesson
for us--He hath given us an example that we may follow in His
steps. The time He chose was admirable, it was the hour of
silence, when the crowd would not disturb Him; the time of
inaction, when all but Himself had ceased to labour; and the
season when slumber made men forget their woes, and cease their
applications to Him for relief. While others found rest in
sleep, He refreshed Himself with prayer. The place was also
well selected. He was alone where none would intrude, where none
could observe: thus was He free from Pharisaic ostentation and
vulgar interruption. Those dark and silent hills were a fit
oratory for the Son of God. Heaven and earth in midnight
stillness heard the groans and sighs of the mysterious Being in
whom both worlds were blended. The continuance of His
pleadings is remarkable; the long watches were not too long; the
cold wind did not chill His devotions; the grim darkness did not
darken His faith, or loneliness check His importunity. We
cannot watch with Him one hour, but He watched for us whole
nights. The occasion for this prayer is notable; it was after
His enemies had been enraged--prayer was His refuge and solace;
it was before He sent forth the twelve apostles--prayer was the
gate of His enterprise, the herald of His new work. Should we
not learn from Jesus to resort to special prayer when we are
under peculiar trial, or contemplate fresh endeavours for the
Master's glory? Lord Jesus, teach us to pray.