I encountered a familiar struggle this morning: trying to remember why it is I even pray. You know the feeling?...when you're praying but at the same time wondering if there's any eternal consequence to what you're doing? But something was different about this morning. Accounts of my Lord leaving the crowds behind and secluding Himself in private prayer captured my attention.

I'm struck by how hungry Jesus was for fellowship with His Father. How sweet those encounters must have been! How jealously Christ guarded these divine appointments from other worldly distractions! Compelled by utter necessity and a deep longing, "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" (Luke 5:16). If our Redeemer daily left the crowds and ran to the throne of Grace to worship and petition and wrestle and wait...what are the implications to our living?

I think Scripture makes clear to us that God is most glorified when belief births action...when dependence upon the Lord becomes more than a theological proposition and begins to look like a desperate, child-like reliance upon a God who declares that He is faithful. Thus, when Jesus went off to pray in seclusion, He was doing so much more than simply offering an example for his disciples. He prayed because He was commanded to, because He longed to, because he needed to...because His Spirit reveled in humble submission at Abba's feet.

As I consider the wonder of Christ while I type this...I remember that His wounds bought my access to the Mercy Seat, He is my Advocate in Heaven...actively mediating my prayers. Surely, "As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after you, O God" (Psalm 42:1). As for today, I yearn for communion with the only One who knows me perfectly...who loves me perfectly...who delights in me for His Name's sake. And when sin hardens my heart and stifles the song in my soul, I will by grace repent and believe my Shepherd's voice: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).

Good words, Ben. I needed to hear that today.

Ben, I don't realy know, but we have many mutual friends. So, I just wanted to say hi, and I enjoyed reading your blog, and I too struggle with the same thing. Thanks for the encouragement.

Ben, my friend - I miss our encouraging and thought-provoking lunch discussions. This is poor substitute, but it's good to hear your thoughts. I especially like the last one, that He will never forsake me: I've got to remember that, or I start to believe as if God will finally give up on me and fail to forgive me when I get cold toward him for the umpteenth time. But -that- is what He died for.

And I'm glad to see you're pursuing an RUF internship - I can see that, and really hope it works out. Will be praying for you and stuff connected to that as it unfolds.

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.