Random Thoughts from Morning Prayers

This morning, during my prayer time, I came across a passage of Scripture, that at first glance may just seem like a simple bit of information. However, this morning three things struck me as I read the following from Luke 6:12-16,

"One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor."

1- Jesus withdrew to pray...He went out to a mountainside...He got away to spend some serious time in prayer. Often, we need to withdraw for prayer. We need to remove ourselves from the distractions of this world in order to get serious with God. I don't know how many times a phone rings during prayer. I don't know how many times a television or computer distracts one from prayer. I don't know how many times other people distract us from our prayers. The point is, we need to take time to be alone with God...no distractions.

2- Jesus spent the night in prayer...I need to spend more time in prayer! He spent the whole night in prayer. Many times, I tire after a few minutes of prayer. But, I believe, God wants us to always be praying...He also wants us to spend some serious time praying...Not just talking, but listening as well.

3- Jesus calls his disciples...He knows their names. He knows our names too! Sometimes it's good to be reminded that this journey with Jesus is a personal thing. He knows us intimately. He knows our name, the numbers of the hairs on our head, every thing there is to know about us...He knows. Isn't that comforting?

Okay, that's it!