Hard to hear this but I know it to be true – afflictions, under the direction of God’s providence and the influence of His grace, are often the means of leading me to pray to and acknowledge God. Whatever it was that caused me to push Him away, I am now drawn back.

He saw the slavery of the Israelites and was concerned for them. – Exodus 2:25 GNT

My crying out to God for mercy is at the same level that I am being oppressed or am seeing others oppressed. These afflictions do nothing for my sin or my soul but they are a way of bringing me back to God quickly.

I believe the lepers in Jesus’ day can teach me some things here.

Once Jesus was in a town where there was a man who was suffering from a dreaded skin disease. When he saw Jesus, he threw himself down and begged him, “Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean!”^[a]

Jesus reached out and touched him. “I do want to,” he answered. “Be clean!” At once the disease left the man. Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go straight to the priest and let him examine you; then to prove to everyone that you are cured, offer the sacrifice as Moses ordered.”  – Luke 5:12-14 GNT

The leper did more than cry out, it would seem he implored Jesus for it was more than a request and it was more than a prayer, it was a tearful and ernest beg.

The leper turns to no one else but Jesus. He knows no one else can help.

There is humility in his tone and phrasing of his request. Though he is imploring, begging, pleading, he does not make demands.

When he receives his healing he still obeys the instructions of Jesus. Prayer is usually not the end of the matter. I must wait for instructions to follow.

I can also learn from Jesus on prayer as He looked for a quiet place to pray right after this healing.

But the news about Jesus spread all the more widely, and crowds of people came to hear him and be healed from their diseases.But he would go away to lonely places, where he prayed. – Luke 5:15-16 GNT

Either when exhausted or needing to be in a safe place, Jesus found that withdrawing to pray restored Him. He must have had designated spots that he liked for He did this often.  What I love most is that the needs of the day did not dictate His timetable. When it was time to get away and pray, He did. He revealed His submission to His Father and His need to commune with Him often.

I am pressed to ensure that I am not kept from regular, uninterrupted times of prayer. I know that prayer brings power from God for my life and my ministry. The temptation to rely on my talent or personality is there – arrogance supreme! I need Jesus.

 “The Bible does not present an art of prayer; it presents the God of prayer, the God who calls before we answer and answers before we call.” – Edmund P. Clowney