(Years ago, when I first wondered about people praying on the spot, I thought that people would have thought they were crazy.

When I was lost, if I heard someone talking out loud to someone who I couldn’t see, I immediately judged them as looney tunes.

After I was saved, I found out that sometimes in church, people would pray out loud to Jesus.

But then I heard about an old preacher who would go back and forth, between conversation with others, and prayer with Jesus.

He would be speaking something, and mid-sentence begin talking to Jesus about the very same thing, then back to speaking again.

I was told that people who knew him became accustomed to his spontaneous moments of prayer.

I think that one preacher didn’t think much of this, until they were both at the same special meeting, to preach.

He had the room next to the older preacher, and he heard the older man praying, but all the other preachers prayed in their rooms.

But what really got to him, was he heard the very last thing the old man said each night, was, “Good night, Jesus!”.

Then, in the morning, he heard the very first thing that the old man would say, and that was, “Good morning, Jesus!”.

This went on each day of the special meeting, until he finally realized, that the old preacher had a beautiful fellowship with Jesus.

 

I had a hard time thinking that this really happens, or that someone could have such a sweet fellowship as he did, with Jesus.

Then I found out that someone, whom I respected in the church, had a similar walk.

For instance, when he would shop, he would ask Jesus out loud, things like, “should I get this, or that?”.

There are people who won’t hesitate to ask Jesus what he thinks, or to share a special moment with him, even if in front of others.

I was convicted that I could, at least, pray when I was driving in the car.

But I would be terrified if I pulled next to someone, who might see me, and think that I was talking to myself.

Mind you, this was like 35 years ago, before cell phones with Bluetooth earpieces and microphones.

Everyone, nowadays, looks like they’re talking to themselves, and no one thinks anything of it – so, I no longer have any excuse.)

 

(What about Jesus? Consider the upper room discourse in John 13-14.

For years I had heard that this upper room discourse continued throughout chapters 15-17.

However, the Pastor of our church said that it was a little different, and at first I wondered about that.

But after looking explicitly for that, in those chapters, I saw that the discussion continued as they got up and walked.

That part began with the last line of chapter 14:)

 

John 14:31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

 

(At that moment, Jesus and his disciples got up and left the upper room, to walk to the garden of Gethsemane.

And they finally entered the garden at the first line of chapter 18:)

 

John 18:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

 

(That means that the discussion that Jesus began with them in chapters 13 & 14, continued as they walked, through chapters 15 & 16.

But more than that, it means, that while they were waking, before they reached the garden, Jesus suddenly began to pray out loud.

Jesus’ high priestly prayer to the Father is recorded in chapter 17, and he prayed out loud in front of the disciples.

The discourse ended with the last line of chapter 16, and the prayer began with the first line of chapter 17:)

 

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

 

John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

 

(Yes, there were times that Jesus prayed alone, like even in the garden, later.

But apparently, the disciples must have frequently heard Jesus suddenly begin speaking to the Father, like David used to.

They were no longer surprised with this, but were likely accustomed to it, and perhaps expected Jesus to suddenly begin praying.

No doubt they came to realize that probably only Jesus and David, and maybe even John the Baptist, were like this all the time.

They would not have heard it like that in their homes, as children, or over the years in the synagogue.

It is possible that they had wanted to have that kind of prayer fellowship with the LORD, and perhaps why it was said:)

 

Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

 

(They knew that their life wasn’t like that, and they apparently wanted to be like Jesus and David.)