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| Eldoret, Kenya |
This morning I received two e-mails from friends who have been desperately praying for answers from God. Today, they received those answers, and were blown away by this. One person wrote me, "Why do I not expect this to happen?" They are now motivated to pray more. God's loving responses to them make me want to pray more.
In a few minutes I'm walking back on our property by the river where there is an old table and my praying chair. I'm bringing my journal, my Bible, and a cup of coffee... to meet with God for a while and pray. I'll pray for other people, and I'll listen for God to speak to me. At this point in my life I rarely if ever leave these prayer times without feeling encouraged and strengthened.
Why do I do this? Why do I pray? The basic reason is: because Jesus did. Here's my reasoning.
1. Jesus is my Great Shepherd.
2. My Great Shepherd spent much time praying.
3. Therefore, I shall spend much time praying.
How do we know Jesus spent much time praying? Because of something like Luke 22:39 - Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. And what Jesus did there was: 1) instruct his disciples to watch and pray; and 2) pray.
"As usual," Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and prayed. "As was his custom." Praying was Jesus' customary, usual way of going about things. If Jesus needed to do this, who am I, as one of Jesus' followers, not to do this?
As usual..., praying.
