prayer....

"Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God." (Luke 6:12)

So what do you think of for, or with, prayer?  What questions come to mind?  Is she going to ask how often do I pray?  Where, or when, do I pray?  How about what do I pray? Are you doing anything else while you are praying?  There are as many questions, and answers, as there are ways, and kinds, of prayer.  Each of us has our own way of doing and our own time(s) to be doing.  There is everything from "foxhole" or breath prayers to Lectio Divina - even the "Circle Maker" (by Mark Batterson) we have spoken of before.

Our Gospel reading, today, is Jesus spending time in prayer.  This is one of the times he has gone, by himself, to spend "the night in prayer to God." (v. 12)  There has been a lot happening, and going to happen, already in his ministry.  Jesus has already been calling followers, healing and (as we see in verse 11) upsetting some of the Pharisees and teachers.  Jesus is also getting ready to call the 12.  This has been a time of prayer, gaining strength and a time of discernment.  A time to decide on who, of those following him, will become "apostles." (v. 13)

So this is so much a question, today, as it is encouragement to take the time to s-t-o-p for prayer.  To give ourselves, especially as Caregivers, the time to listen, strengthen and discern our relationship with God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.  To use this time of Lent to establish the discipline of  prayer.