Scripture - Luke 6:12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountains to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Observation - Jesus was about to make some major decisions. He was about to choose who were going to be his disciples. His commitment to prayer is unprecedented and is truly a high priority in His life. Jesus retreated to the mountains to pray and stayed there all night. He prayed to God for direction and instruction in making decisions that affected the whole of the newly forming church. Jesus dedicated himself to fasting an prayer and seeking God at every turn. He makes the statement "I can do nothing except what the Father tells me". His desire to hear God drives the decisions that He makes.
Application - To be found praying all night before making any decisions. Primarily decisions of paramount importance in our lives. Jesus model for prayer gives me the example that should be modeled for every decision facing our family and our church. To retreat with God. To pray all night for the direction and the instruction to move forward. To be able to do nothing except what the Father tells me. Too often I face decisions in my life that need more prayer. I would consider myself a praying man, but prayer that is laid prior to making a decision would eliminate the need for worry, stress and massive deliberation.
Prayer - Father I need your help to pray. Not simply the life of prayer but instructional prayer, pre-decision prayer, prayer that touches You and gives me the appropriate information for moving all of life forward.
