But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. Luke 5:16
I mentioned in previous blogs that I am, by nature, an introvert. My personality is such that, if the Holy Spirit isn’t moving me to be social, I am going to withdraw and become WALLPAPER! I will do what ever I can to withdraw into a corner where no one even notices me. Now, if He is moving in me, look out cause I am going to be a hugger and in your face ; ) lol.
If we were to exam the scriptures, there are certainly people that we might surmise were introverts, but none that can be proven. It is assumed that Barnabas, perhaps John Mark and Moses, were introverts. Just because we don’t see them being outspoken, doesn’t mean that they weren’t so we cannot be sure.
The one person who, although in scripture we see Him frequently withdrawing, we would not consider an introvert, is Jesus.
Jesus often went off alone, to spend time with God in prayer. Scripture shows us that He did “After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone”, Matthew 14:23; “In those days, Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12, “And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.” Mark 6:46.
This does not make Jesus an introvert. What it does make Him, is an example to us, as to how we should withdraw to spend time with our Heavenly Father. He even He told us how (But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.).
Jesus understood the importance of spending time with His Heavenly Father, alone.
Please understand that I LOVE corporate prayer. It is a powerful time when the children of God come together to lift up His name and to bring petitions before Him, on behalf of others. There is a time and a place for that. But we should, daily, be lifting our petitions to the Father (and not just our petitions), in private…withdrawn from others and all distractions.
When we pray we often lift up a bunch of requests and never, praise, honor or even thank God. We treat Him like a genie in a bottle. But, if we are following Jesus example…He never lifted up a “gimme” prayer.
When Jesus taught the Disciples to pray, He prayed the Lord’s prayer, as a model for them. In it we see Him pray that God is Holy (praising Him) for God’s Kingdom to come (seeking Him and His will), That He would meet our needs (provision), that He would forgive us (repentance), and that He would help us resist temptation and the enemies schemes (through the Holy Spirit help us not to sin).
I also find that His prayer in John 17 to be quite powerful and helpful in how to pray.
He Prayed for God to be glorified through Him – “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,” John 17:1 & “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” John 17:5. We should be praying the same thing. Our sole/soul purpose is to glorify God so that others will be rescued from the enemies grip.
He prayed for the protection of others (US!) – I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. John 17:11 & 12 (NIV)). We should be praying for the protection of others as well…missionaries, brothers and sisters in Christ, family and all those in tornado torn Tennessee, etc..
He prays for people who will (future tense) come to know Him – “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, John 17:17-18″. We should be praying for the lost! And, we should be praying like Jesus…not that people may come to know Him….He doesn’t say I pray for those who “might” believe in Him, He prays “also for those who will (future tense) believe. We are to pray with confidence that, if it is God’s will (and people repenting and coming to know Him is His will), we thank Him right now for those in our lives who are lost and will come to know Him (But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:6).
He praised and honored God’s love and righteousness “O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. John 17:25-26. After all that God has done for us and the lengths at which He has gone to give us an opportunity for forgiveness and eternal life with Him, how are we not (daily) praising and honoring His love and righteousness and all of His other incredible attributes (i.e. longsuffering, kindness, supplier of needs, protector, provider of freedom and peace, etc.)
Another verse, that isn’t in John 17, that reveals something that we should be practicing when we pray is Luke 22:42.
Jesus prays for His Father’s will, not His own, in Luke 22:42 “saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”. Our Heavenly Father knows our needs, He knows our hearts and He knows what is best. His will is always better. We sometimes can’t understand how, but we will one day, in Heaven. We need to seek His will above our own.
I pray that today we would begin our quiet time modeling our prayers after Jesus’ prayers. I pray that we would withdraw to a quiet place and lift up our voices to our Heavenly Father. I pray that, like Jesus modeled, we would repent and ask the Holy Spirit to help us to resist sin and temptation; and that we would praise and honor God with our prayers; that we would pray for the protection and salvation of others and that we would pray for the Father’s will. And, I pray that our hearts would desire such an intimate time with our Heavenly Father, that we will hunger for more time with Him and would pray without ceasing through out the whole day. Father, hear our prayers and be glorified and pleased.
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and you have never experienced an intimate talk with our Heavenly Father, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is out lined there. God wants to hear your voice and He wants you to hear His! Once you have prayed that prayer, please reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know. I’d love to be in prayer for you.
