Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Mark 1:35 NLT
I read this scripture not too long ago during my morning devotion and it jumped off the page at me. Was I seeing this right? That the busier and more popular Jesus became the more Jesus withdrew to His quiet place to pray?
This confronted me head on & convicted me. Why is that? Because I find in my life that it's typically the exact opposite. How It's so easy to get caught up with life, our work, and our ministry (when I say ministry not just within the church, but making Christ known right where God has called & placed you), & what we are doing for God that we forget to simply spend time quality time with God. Unfortunately, for many people, when the pace of life increases the first things to go are strategic & uninterrupted times of solitude, individual worship, and prayer.
Perhaps today could it be that you need to redesign your schedule to find time for earnest prayer & solitude? What a great reminder today from the life of Jesus of how It is so vitally important to:
Seek The Lord before your busy schedule takes over your thoughts.
Withdraw daily from the noise and demands of life so you can focus on God.
Take on Jesus attitude of regular communion with The Father.
Reflect on the priorities Jesus had for His life (Seek First The Kingdom - Matthew 6:33)
Determine to pray on a more regular basis, not just in times of crisis.
If prayer & solitude was important for Jesus then how much more important must it be for you & I. Will you commit today to either start or continue on with daily times of prayer & solitude with Jesus, even if it means that like Jesus, you have to wake up just a little bit earlier in the morning to do it?
Here is a goal & declaration for your day...
The busier I become the more I will withdraw to be with Jesus.
WHEN YOU GET BUSY DO YOU SPEND MORE OR LESS TIME WITH JESUS?
- MORE
- LESS