And in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a deserted place, and there He prayed. (Mk. 1:35 AMP)
This was after a long day’s work of ministry (teaching in the synagogue, healing the sick, and driving out demons long into the night) and before another long day. He obviously didn’t get much sleep that night. But His strength was in prayer, not primarily in sleep.
He went to a deserted place. It was important for him to get alone with His Father. He did not meet with His Father in the presence of His disciples as an example to them. No, He set the example by getting away, demonstrating that His priority, above all others, was His relationship with the Father.
He did it first thing in the morning, before anyone or anything else could demand His time. For Jesus, this was before dawn. Once the sun was up, He made Himself available to others. And when they found Him, He did not rebuke them. (This reminds me of my children who track me down no matter what place I find to be alone with my Father!)
He received direction in prayer. They wanted Him to continue what He had been doing the day before, but He said, “Let us be going on” (1:38). His ministry was successful, and many wanted Him to stay longer. But He received direction from His Father, not from the needs of others.
She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household. . . . (Prov. 31:15)
Lord, help me to be faithful to meet with you early, no matter what other demands are made on my time. You are my first priority, and I determine to live that out in my schedule. Help me to find a place to be alone with You (whether that is in my bedroom, a closet, the shower, or on a walk), demonstrating to my own heart and to my family that You really are my most valuable treasure. Please fill me with love, joy, and peace in my inner man. Direct me so that I can direct my day according to Your plan, not my own (or my children’s)!
Monday, October 15, 2007
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2 comments:
Thanks for your post. It is so cool the way that Jesus can relate to us as moms . He knows just what it is like to have people making demands of you all day long and needing you and to not be getting much sleep! Yet He was able to have compassion and desire in meeting people's needs because he was spending time with Father. The passage that the Spirit really spoke to me about this is in Matthew 14 after Jesus finds out that John the Baptist is dead. He goes away to be alone, but the people find Him and instead of being annoyed at a time He really had a right to be, He was full of compassion for them and healed them. And even when it was dinnertime and He could have told everyone to go home, He instead provided food for them. He made sure all of their needs were met before He got some time to himself. But He did make sure He got the time to himself even though it was late. He sent the disciples off and dismmissed everybody else and went to be alone in the mountains to pray. He stayed late into the night and then started healing all over again the next day as soon as people got word He was there. It is so encouraging for me to see that example-to know that if I make the time to be with Father, I will be able to meet my family's (and others)needs. I also usually make that time by staying up late at night instead of getting up early, so it is good to see that Jesus did that too sometimes. It is just so good to know that we have a God that actually knows what we feel like and can show us the right way to respond to things!
I was just thinking about that story where Jesus was sleeping through that violent storm and the disciples woke Him up because they were scared-ha ha! I can see why He was sleeping through that-the poor guy was TIRED! How well He can relate to us! But He also shows us what is possible when we are getting filled up from our Father.
Sarah, I love your insight! How did Jesus do it?!? I am trying to live it out and see for myself. :) Whether early or late (or both sometimes), I am learning to find my strength in Him.
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