be a light!

“In these days he went out to the mountain to pray,…and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.” Luke 6:12-16

Prayer. I have always like the idea of prayer. Especially the “ask and you shall receive” part. I want every prayer to be answered. According to God’s will. Yes, I have seen prayers answered, but I want more prayers answered.

Jesus went to the mountain to pray. He wanted to be alone with Poppa God. Just the two of them, quality time with Poppa. Jesus had a specific conversation topic that evening: the disciples. Who will they be?.

I remember in college we “pulled all-nighters,” which usually meant a paper was due or there was a test to study for. Jesus, however, pulled on God—an all-nighter to be with Poppa and to seek His advice.

How does an all-night prayer start? The gates of His courts are praise. This was emphasized to me poignantly this past Saturday at the Healing Rooms. Pastor Daniel from Kenya stopped by. We asked him for a blessing for the team. He started in song. Literally praising the Lord. “You are worthy. You are Holy!” Words can’t describe his song. It was to God and was as if we weren’t in the room. I assure you, it opened the heavens! And His presence fell in our midst. Oh, that we would start each and every prayer in total praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord and Him alone!

Jesus set aside the entire night for prayer. How long did worship and adoration last? How long would we?

Once in Poppa’s presence, He quieted His mind and settled on the subject at hand. Who, Poppa God, are my closest companions here on the earth to be? Did they discuss the different characteristics and what would be needed? Or did they select based on zeal and passion? Or the capacity to listen and learn? What did each one bring that no one else could?

• Simon. Whom he named Peter. The Father may have shown Jesus. Passionate. The rock. Someone ready to jump in and do anything.
• Andrew. The brother of Peter. The quieter one. Liked the background.
• James and John. A second set of brothers. Prone to justice. Like front-row seats. And a tad impetuous..
• Philip. From the same town as Peter and Andrew. Perhaps friends of James and John.
• Matthew. A tax collecter? He could chart the days travels, since he would know the area well. Thomas. Always wanting to check everything out.
• Yet another James. (There’s too many Mary’s for me, too…)
• Simon, the Zealot. The Zealots were radically opposed to Roman rule. So his frequent question may have been, when’s the rest of the army coming, Jesus. Let’s finish these guys off and get to the ruling part!
• Judas. “Are you certain, Poppa?”

Jesus came into His courts. And the Father was pleased to pause and show Jesus what He saw in each disciple. A view from the heavenly perspective.

They took all night to chat and to joyfully explore. Prayer was conversation. Laughter filled. Many smiles back and forth. Purposeful. Intentional. And an eagerness to hear the next word from Poppa.

That’s what I want my prayer life to be. Intimate. Loving. Joy filled. And to come to morning, after a night of prayer, with resolution.

Closure. Until the next conversation. It’s not a test. Or is it?

Sue
Only believe.

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Please say a prayer for Austin, to whom this painting is going. Its a “Healing Hope Bird.”