“However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. ” (Luke 5:15–16, NKJV)
Could you imagine what the life of Jesus would be like during His public ministry? People began to hear about this man who had great wisdom and healed people of their afflictions. Jesus had no problem attracting a crowd. Rather than seek the limelight of attention Jesus did just the opposite and pursued solitary time alone with the Father.
It is easy to get caught up in all the duties of our day and forget the delight of communing with God. Martin Luther was reported to say, "If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” George Mueller lived a lifestyle of secret prayer. When asked how much time he spent in prayer, George Mueller's reply was, "Hours every day. But I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk and when I lie down and when I arise. And the answers are always coming." The apostle Paul simply directed God’s people to, “pray without ceasing, ” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NKJV).
Time invested in prayer will return interest in sanctification.
