Luke 6:12-16 – A really short passage, but there’s an example here that is worth pausing to consider.  If you don’t have a Bible handy, you can find the verses here: https://www.bible.com/bible/116/LUK.6.NLT#:~:text=12One%20day,later%20betrayed%20him).

One evening Jesus went for a hike and didn’t come home till morning. As we read the gospel accounts we begin to see that this was not uncommon. Jesus took time alone to connect with his Father.

On this occasion, Luke tells us, his all-nighter preceded a major decision. Jesus had gathered quite a crowd of disciples, people who followed him around listening to his teachings. Now he was going to choose twelve who he would train for the purpose of being sent out to spread his teachings. We call them apostles, which I’m told is derived from a Greek word that means sent out. 

So I think we could also say that Jesus was selecting the first twelve missionary candidates!

Jesus knew the mission for which these twelve were selected was both challenging and vital. So he spent the night alone with God before he announced his choices. We almost never hear a dialogue between Jesus and the Father. I guess that was because he so often chose to be alone when he spent that time. I wonder how much dialogue even happened. 

Have you ever just been with someone you really respected, someone you considered honourable and wise? In those situations we just kind of instinctively rise above our typical level. When I’m around people like that, I choose my topics of conversation more cautiously. I listen more. I think more deeply. This brings to mind something that I think I am observing in my life. I think I have mentioned that I am working to develop my prayer life by using my journal and being more diligent in taking designated time simply to pray. But, especially when it comes to praying for guidance, something different is happening. Yes, I am praying, but how many words can you use to say, “God show me what to do here”? When I am looking for wisdom, yes, I ask God, but then I just kind of hang out with him. Does that make sense? 

Part of my prayer life becomes reading and studying the Bible. Like, how else am I going to know his voice? When you spend time with someone, you get to know them and you can recognize the way they talk. You could read a transcript of a conversation in which your best friend was involved and know if it was really your friend, or if someone impersonating them. You just get to know the kind of things they would say, the stuff that matters to them, the way they prioritize certain things. You just know.

It’s no different with God. I need to read the Bible. I need to listen to it. I need to dig in and learn from it.  Then, when decisions come along, I will have a pretty decent sense of what God would say in my specific circumstance. Praying for wisdom, for guidance, is less about asking and a lot more about getting to know the source of wisdom and guidance.

So, ya, Jesus in his humanity received guidance the same way the rest of us do, by spending time alone in the presence of the Father.