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Luke 5:16 - The Importance of Prayer.

Luke 5:16 - The Importance of Prayer.

Luke 5:16 (NIV) But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and 
prayed. 

Luke 5:16 (NCV) but Jesus often slipped away to be alone so he 
could pray. 

Luke here summarizes Jesus' habit of leaving inhabited places to 
be alone with God (e.g., 4:1-2; 9:28). [Andrews SB] 

Jesus cherished His times alone with His heavenly Father. As our 
example, He shows us that none of us can afford to skimp on our 
devotional times with God. We were made for this! [Life Principles SB By 
Charles Stanley] 

Jesus made sure he often withdrew to quiet, solitary places to 
pray. Many things clamor for our attention, and we often run ourselves 
ragged attending to them. Like Jesus, however, we should take time to 
withdraw to a quiet and deserted place to pray. Strength comes from God, 
and we can only be strengthened by spending time with him. [Life 
Application SB] 

   When we pray, we are talking to the all-powerful God who 
created the earth by the power of his word, whose wonders fill the earth 
- and who faithfully answers our prayers with awesome deeds! 
Prayer is how he has designed his mighty power to be released on the 
earth, in our lives, and in the lives of those who desperately need 
God's help. It's like the huge generator one of the children in my 
prayer group drew to show what he had learned about prayer.  
   "That's God," Grant said. "He's got all this power for us." 
Then he drew a long diagonal line from the big generator to some 
stick figures representing a family. "That's who needs help. And the 
power flows along the cord as we pray!" Realizing God's awesome power 
changes the way we pray and the way we live. His power is available for 
every situation and need so that we "can do everything with the help 
of Christ who gives [us] the strength [we] need" (Philippians 
4:13). This is a God we can trust and lean on. This is the all-powerful 
God in whom we can have confidence when we pray.  
   LORD, we praise you for your power. We believe, but help our 
unbelief, and fill us with fresh faith through the power of your Word. 
Enlarge our circle of prayer, not just for our needs and our own family 
but for those who are hurting, oppressed, and lost around us. You 
are our hope and the hope of everyone on the earth! [Praying Through 
The Bible By Fuller re Psa. 65:5, 6] 

OUR PRAYERS LAY THE TRACK DOWN ON WHICH GOD'S POWER CAN COME. 
LIKE A MIGHTY LOCOMOTIVE, HIS POWER IS IRRESISTIBLE, BUT IT CANNOT 
REACH US WITHOUT RAILS. Watchman Nee (1903-1972).  

The crowds sought Him, but Jesus withdrew to pray and commune 
with the Father. He did not allow popularity to detour Him from the 
Father's will. Vance Havner said, "SUCCESS CAN FEATHER OUR NEST SO 
COMFORTABLY THAT WE FORGET HOW TO FLY." [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary 
by Warren Wiersbe] 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:

A Better Way to Live: http://www.itiswritten.com/betterway/

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/

Grace Notes: http://www.e-gracenotes.org/index.php

Excellent Spiritual Resource Site: 
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/  

More Spiritual Resources: http://www.aBible.com