Charge Your Flashlight

Sep 03 2015 Charge Your Flashlight

But Jesus would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

~Luke 5:15 NASB

I love this verse. Even the Son of God slipped away for prayer- often!

Have you seen the movie “War Room” (http://www.warroomthemovie.com)? It’s amazing. The theme is slipping away to pray (not to the wilderness but to a prayer closet). The film’s makers give us a beautiful glimpse of the light of prayer shining into dark places. It’s an inspiring story of God’s power changing hearts and lives through prayer.

Do you believe prayer changes lives? Do you believe it shines light on dark situations? I do, and amen. Yet, I forget. More than forgetting, I cop out. I fail to slip away some days, instead living in partial darkness and hopelessness when I know better. You too?

Jesus knew better. He knew where the source of His strength came from. He knew getting away from the demanding crowds, hurting hearts, crippled bodies, and needy disciples was vital to His shining light remaining bright.

The refueling happened there, in the wilderness, in conversations with His Father. The batteries in His flashlight charged and made ready to shine brightly to the crowds the next day.

In simple terms, prayer is simply speaking with God. Prayer takes various forms: requests, confessions, thanksgiving, praise, lamenting, and stillness. As a result, we connect with our Savior. We gain strength. God’s light focuses on us and our requests. It is inexplicable and powerful.

Friend, He knows. He knows how empty we feel and the sadness we feel as a result of our distance from Him. He knows how vital the light of prayer is to our dead flashlight. He knows. He is beckoning us to come away with Him. The light of His grace is waiting with open arms.

Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God.  ~Colossians 4:2

Be encouraged, my friend. Begin (again?). with me today. Slip away with Jesus, with the light of prayer as your guide. Pray over the darkness in your life and in the lives of your loved ones. Experience refueling and recharging as Jesus did. And do it often.

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.  ~Matthew 6:6

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