God instructs us in His Word that we should pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17), however, there are some seasons of life where God may lead us to seek Him more intensely.
This could mean more time in prayer, fasting for a longer period of time, or going into deeper study of the Word.
In Exodus 24:12-17, the Lord instructed Moses to come before Him on the mountain. Moses waited until God spoke to Him on the 7th day, after which Moses remained there for an additional 40 days and nights. During that time Moses received specific instructions concerning His ministry as well as the tablets of stone containing the covenant law.
There are many reasons that God can lead us to seek Him more intensely. One reason could be the devil is planning something that God wants to deliver us from. Another reason could be that God wants to reveal something to us or prepare us for our calling such as in the example of Moses. Also, God could want to grow us spiritually and bring us into a deeper relationship with Himself.
If we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, He will let us know when we need to go into deeper fellowship with Christ. When He does, it is important for us to obey that prompting so that we do not miss what God wants to do in our lives.
Exodus 24:12-18 NIV
The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”
Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”
When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
