Have you found yourself in such a busy season of ministry that you can’t seem to find even a few quiet minutes to pray? Think back for a minute to those times that you were in the midst of heavy rehearsals for a special Christmas program or planning the special music for big Easter production. All those hours of planning and rehearsals added into your busy week really made your schedule tight. You were so busy doing ministry that you didn’t have time to stop and spend a few minutes alone with the Lord, reading your Bible and praying.
We have all been there and we can collectively say that the music ministry keeps you BUSY!
But should we be too busy to pray? Jesus sets the perfect example for us in His ministry. If anyone was busy with ministry it was Jesus. Everywhere He went, great crowds would follow Him. Everyone wanted to touch Him, to have Him meet their needs and to heal their diseases. Luke 5:15-16 says, “But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” (ESV) Matthew 14:23, “And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.” (ESV) People surrounded Jesus wherever He went! He was continually pouring Himself out – meeting needs, serving, loving those that gathered around Him. He spent much time teaching and training His disciples to spread the good news. He was focused on saving the world! He was in the midst of a busy ministry, but He took the needed time to be alone with the Father. He knew that He needed quiet time with His Father.
Now, if Jesus saw the importance of spending time alone with the Father for Himself, how much more is it important for us to follow His example and do the same?! We can’t be effective in ministry and accomplish what God has for us to accomplish in the power of the Holy Spirit if we go it alone. We must take the time, especially in the busiest seasons of ministry, to pray, to spend time alone with the Lord.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God…” (ESV) Yes, even in the busiest seasons of ministry we need to take the time to be still before the Lord. During those busy times of ministry instead of thinking that you’re too busy to stop and pray, remind yourself of Jesus’ example. If He needed to spend time in prayer, how much more do we need to? We need time alone with Him to be refueled and refocused to do His work, His way.
During these busy days of ministry we are too busy NOT to pray!