I prayed where Jesus prayed. The picture above is one that my wife took of me a few years ago, praying in the Garden of Gethsemane (which means “oil press” in Hebrew). This is where Jesus and his disciples prayed the night before he was crucified for my sins, all who put their faith in Him. The tree pictured is an olive tree. Some of the olive trees in Israel are over 3000 years old. Could Jesus have prayed at this very tree!?!? Well, not exactly, the olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane were all cut down by the Romans in AD 70.

BUT, when an olive tree is cut down, many times the roots left behind will produce shoots that resurface and produce a new tree, an ancestor to the one cut down. So the tree pictured could be an ancestor of a tree where Jesus prayed!! Pretty cool, hu? Want to hear something even cooler, you don’t have to go to Israel, or Jerusalem, or the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. Prayer is just as effective wherever your reading this post. Prayer isn’t about a location. To pray, communicate with God, no matter where you are.

In one sense, prayer is a place all it’s own.  A place where pride is abandoned and hope is fostered.  Prayer is the place where we admit our needs, find humility, and show our dependence on God. Prayer is the great privilege of reaching out to the heart of our heavenly Father. And we can do that ANYWHERE, ANYTIME. So you can go to the Wailing Wall, or the Garden of Gethsemane, or to your favorite church building to pray if you’d like, but prayer is just as effective, no matter where you are.

I loved our time in Israel. I loved praying there! But I am so thankful that the privilege of prayer is not limited to a location. Have you prayed today? You can do that, right where you are!

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:5-7)