(Mark 1:35 NIrV) It was very early in the morning and still dark. Jesus got up and left the house. He went to a place where he could be alone. There he prayed.
This morning we continue our new series entitled, “Re-Energizing Your Prayer Life.” Yesterday I taught about Jesus and how He should be our example when it comes to prayer. Let’s continue to flow in that same vein this today.
In Mark chapter one we see the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus was baptized and immediately after His baptism He was “led” of the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of satan. Now, how was He led? Did the Holy Spirit physically take Jesus by the hand? Of course not. This was an inner leading. The Father was leading Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, through the internal relationship they had. This leading is part of our prayer life. While Jesus was in the desert we know that He fasted for 40 days. Prayer always accompanies biblical fasting. After having fasted, prayed, and successfully resisted the temptations of satan in the wilderness, Jesus came out of the desert ready to start His earthly ministry. He immediately preached the Gospel of Kingdom of God, called His first disciples, drove out demons, and healed many who were sick.
The way Mark records this, it seems like this could have happened all in the same day. Whether it did or not is not significant, but what Mark records next is. Mark says, “It was very early in the morning and still dark. Jesus got up and left the house. He went to a place where he could be alone. There he prayed.” Jesus’ time with the Father in the wilderness obviously prepared Him for His first experiences in ministry. But Jesus was not going to face a new day without hearing from the Father. He spent time with the Father early in the morning. Simon (later known as Peter), and his friends, went looking for Jesus. When they found him they called out, “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus was not concerned about that; He was more focused on hearing from the Father in prayer than hearing from people. After receiving His marching orders for the day, Jesus said, “Let’s go somewhere else. I want to go to the nearby towns. I must preach there also. That is why I have come.” Jesus was completely clear about what He needed to do that day, because He had spent time with the Father, early in the morning, in prayer. We will learn in the series that He also prayed throughout the day. But the point is that Jesus did not assume that anything/everything that would happen over the course of the day would somehow magically be ‘the will of God.’ No, Jesus actively sought to receive the will of God in prayer and then sought to perform what He received! There is so much more I want to say about this, but I will stop here for today.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Jesus spent time alone with the Father. Praying with or around others is fine, Jesus did this too, but there is nothing like giving the Father your undivided attention. Make time to give the Father quality time in prayer.
2. Jesus prayed early in the morning. If you are like me, then once your day starts rolling it’s hard to slow down. Taking the time early in the morning to pray helps you keep your priorities in order and it will also help you properly order your day.
3. Jesus did not assume that everything that happened would be God’s will. Far too many believers accept everything as ‘the will of God’ without ever spending time with the Father to find out what His will actually is. If you hear from the Father in prayer, you won’t ever question His will, because you will know it.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for this teaching. I am preparing my heart, mind, and soul to develop in the area of prayer. Jesus made time to pray and so will I. Jesus actually spent alone time with You and He made sure it was quality time. I declare, by faith, that I will do the same. I learn from the example Jesus left for me. I will get up and pray early in the morning. Instead of allowing my day to order my prayer, I will allow my prayer to order my day. In prayer I am going to tell the day what kind of day it is going to be. I am Your sheep, I hear Your voice, and the voice of a stranger I shall not follow. You speak to me, You tell me Your will for my life, and I walk out that will BY FAITH, with the utmost confidence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
