nonstop prayer.
The thought of setting aside one, two, three, or four hours
alone with God seems unimaginable to many of us.
In a famous sermon, Charles Spurgeon, renowned pastor and
founder of a pastor’s college in England during the nineteenth
century, challenged men and women to consider giving God
just one night—all night—alone with God in prayer:
What, have we no sacred ambition? Are we deaf to the yearnings of
divine love?... Surely, brethren, if we have given whole days to
folly, we can afford a space for heavenly wisdom. There was a time
when we gave whole nights to... dancing and the world’s revelry;
we did not tire then.... Why do we grow weary when asked to
watch with our Lord? Up, sluggish heart, Jesus calls you! Rise and go
forth to meet the heavenly Friend in the place where He manifests
Himself. 10Spurgeon’s description of the gregarious, all-night partier
could easily depict a twenty-first century man or woman. Most
of us can’t wait until Friday comes around each week. Many of
us look forward to staying out late, dancing, playing sports,
attending concerts, or just relaxing by hanging out with
friends. We’ll easily chat all night with our buddies in a coffee
shop or on a road trip. And we love to cozy up on the couch
with a rented movie into the wee hours of the morning, but we
can hardly fathom giving God the same amount of time!
Why is it so difficult to be alone with God on a regular
basis?
Why can’t we spend even one hour alone with God?