All night long the Son of God remained in prayer. What would He have discussed with His Father during these hours? When He was in great distress in Gethsemane about three years later, it seems that He sought the face of His Father three times that night, each time for one hour (see Mark 14:35–41). He not only preached on the subject of prayer, but also lived it out—and He did so until the end of His life.

Christianity began with 120 people who unanimously persevered in prayer, claiming that God would fulfill His promises (Acts 1:14; Luke 11:13; Luke 24:49). How powerfully God responded to this persistent prayer! He loves it when we remind Him of His promises and ask Him to make them a reality in our lives (see Isa. 62:6–7).

Paul writes to the Colossians: “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2). We can do this both alone and collectively. Three disciples were together when the Lord told them to watch and pray (see Mt. 26:41). It’s sometimes easier to have longer prayer times together with others. This can be done privately or as a local gathering. Especially in times, when there is a particular need, it is a blessing to come together before the throne of grace, trusting that the ‘Hearer of prayer’ (Ps. 65:2) will not leave prayers unanswered.

The night after King Herod had Peter thrown into prison, there was light in one of the houses of Jerusalem. Many were gathered there to intercede for their brother in prayer; “but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church”(Acts 12:5). The Lord honored this in a very evident way!

Throughout the history of the Church, believers have repeatedly prayed together through the night. The Lord has often given revival and conversions in response. For example, the Indian evangelist Bakht Singh (1903–2000) spent 19 nights with his co-workers in prayer, with a two-day break, before a three-month crusade in the Chennai area (South-East India). The result was overwhelming blessing that was apparent through many conversions and the formation of assemblies.

The local fellowship groups of the Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine also spent nights in prayer, praying earnestly for the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. By the time Zinzendorf, who was a leader of this movement, passed away, about 226 missionaries had gone out to preach the gospel of grace to the whole world!

Do you think that the Lord could still do great things today if we were once again willing to devote ourselves more to prayer and spend several hours together on our knees? Perhaps other believers around you are willing to try God in this way (see Mal. 3:10), and there is just one person needed who, dependent on the Lord, takes the initiative to start a prayer group. Are you willing to let God use you, and to encourage others to do such “good works” (see Heb. 10:24)?