I remember the first time I came across Martin Luther’s quote on prayer: “Work, work from early until late. In fact, I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” I was a young mom overwhelmed with the daily tasks of raising littles. I had no time or space of my own. Every moment seemed like I was at the beck and call of people who constantly needed me. Even getting a shower each day seemed like an impossible task.
As I read the quote, I couldn’t help but recall those mornings before I had children where I would read my Bible and pray before heading off to work. It seemed so easy then. My time was my own. But after having children, it was a struggle to find quiet. It was a challenge to find pockets of time to focus on my own needs. (Anyone have littles follow them into the bathroom?!) So when I came across the Luther quote, my mind could not wrap itself around the idea. I couldn’t find five quiet minutes alone to pray, much less three hours!
But more than the amount of time Luther designated to prayer, I think what stood out to me the most is Luther’s response to the busyness of his life. He had a full life, translating the Bible, preaching, leading a Reformation. He was also a husband and father. With all that he had on his plate, he chose to begin his day with prayer. When my life is filled to the brim and I get overwhelmed, trying to juggle all the tasks and duties before me, I am more likely to cut things out of my day like Bible study and prayer. I will zero in on my tasks and work hard until they are completed. The fact that Luther didn’t set aside prayer in his busy day but instead prayed because he was so busy is a testament to his faith and trust in God. He entrusted his time to our sovereign Lord who rules our days. As Proverbs tells us, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” (16:9). The Lord knows the tasks we have before us. He knows our limitations. And he knows what we need in order to accomplish what he’s called us to do. When Luther had too much to do and not enough time, he turned to the keeper of his days, praying for the Lord to provide, instruct, guide, and direct his path.
Our Savior did the same. He made it a priority to be with his Father in prayer. He rose early in the morning to be alone and commune with the Father (Mark 1:35). In the midst of people desperate to meet with him and be healed, he would leave to pray by himself, “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” (Luke 5:15-16).
Jesus abided in the Father and taught us to abide as well: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). We abide through prayer and study of the word. And as we abide, we received the spiritual strength we need to live out our callings. God hears our prayers and equips us for the tasks at hand. He gives us the wisdom and discernment we need. He enables us to accomplish his purposes. It is only as we abide that we bear fruit.
Luther knew the truth that apart from God, he could do nothing. And so he prayed. While it’s hard to imagine committing three hours of our day in prayer—and there may be times when we need to do just that!—more so, we need to entrust all our plans, all our busy tasks and responsibilities, to the One who rules our days. May we have a heart like Luther, one that is busy in prayer.
Photo by Olivia Snow on Unsplash
