Wednesday, September 2
Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.
—Luke 6:12
Yet even though we want to relate every missing story, every new plan, every important change in our lives, we are likely to wind down the conversation in the late-night hours, simply because the desire for sleep overcomes us. Our heart might want to talk until dawn, but our body simply won't comply. Our drooping lids will force us to save some of our sharing until morning.
The thought of spending the night in prayer seems like it would be even harder. Why not just pray in the daytime? Why not pray when we are most alert? Why fight the desire to sleep in order to be in conversation with God?
There's a stillness about the night that puts our mind and soul in a different space. The rhythm and vibration in us is calmer. We're less defensive, and less sure of ourselves. Our ego is quieter and our soul is in a place of receptivity. There's less sham and pretense in us, and less arrogance.
Coming to pray in the night brings us into a still and holy space where our soul opens wide. In that still holiness our soul is more ready to pray, and our ears are more attuned to the whisper of heaven. Sleep may beckon, but the sheer awe of God's presence can awaken and enliven our spirit so it shoots toward the holy like a star.
Gracious God, when the night stars gather, help me hear the longing in my soul for you.
