"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went to a deserted place, where he prayed." (Mark 1:35)
There it is, a tiny little verse, stuck in the middle of Jesus' powerful ministry. Mark, Chapter 1, begins with a bang. Jesus is announced, baptized, thrown into the desert to be tempted, recruits some disciples, amazes the crowds, casts out demons, does a good bit of healing, and oh yeah... right in the middle of all that, he takes time to pray.
I have to say Jesus really impresses me in this verse. I HATE getting up in the morning when it is still dark. I think I would never do that "just to pray!"
But, then I realize that this verse is very intentionally placed in the chapter, to remind us that the times when we have the least amount of time to pray, are often the times that we need it the most.
Jesus shows us in this passage, just how important it is to take time to pray, especially in busy moments. And, even though the idea of getting up in the morning sends chills down my spine, I love the idea of taking that extra time to spend with God in a deserted place. In college, I learned to take R.O.S's or Retreats of Silence. I would go find a deserted place in a park or even an empty part of campus. I'd sit with my Bible and my journal and pour out my heart to God. I have continued this practice since college and find it to be one of the most restoring things I can do for myself.
So, the questions for you this week are...
What do you do to take time to pray?
Where is your "deserted place?"
When is the best time for you to go there?
How can we best encourage one another to go to that "deserted place" on a regular basis?
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5 comments:
Last Week: I found "smelling the color 9" a very apt analogy. It's on par with "explaining red to a blind person", or "herding cats" in my lexicon of frustration! I also thought the use of a multimedia approach to reinforce the sermon highly effective. Disciple Study facilitators are tought that for us to learn anything, multiple centers of our brain must all be targeted; visual; auditory; reasoning; etc.
This Week: Prayer and meditation are key spiritual disciplines. At a recent workshop on passionate spirituality at another church, I realised with surprise that I had drifted away from having regular conversations with God other than when in need! "Taking" time has not been effective for me, I need to "make" time. How I invest my finite time reveals my priorities; OUCH!
In the gospels, Jesus sought places where he could be alone: boats; deserts; wildernesses; mountains; and gardens. The place I felt closest to God was at Mackinaw Islands seeing the Milky Way clearly for the first time; it took me out of myself and shut "me" up. But that does not help me day-to-day. The most "deserted place" I know is usually in my head! Pun intended...
Bed time is not so good for me; like the apostles at Gethsemane I soon fall asleep. Driving to work or hiking on the trail alone give me opportunities to pray and meditate rather than just plead with God; but what does it say about my priorities that I can only talk to God when I have nothing "better" to do? I was very moved and convicted by your statement "the times when we have the least amount of time to pray, are often the times that we need it the most." WOW! How true and unexpected.
Jesus actively sought to lose himself both physically and mentally to better commune with God. So I guess the best way to help someone find that same intimacy is to tell them to "get lost"!
Just a comment to say Becky inherited the tendency to 'savor the last bit of morning sleep'. However, I have to say when I can discipline myself to do it, early morning is the best time to pray and commune with God. I feel so empowered all day on the days I actually accomplish this goal. Morning is a special time, even for a "lazy bones" like me. Becky's MOM
Other than the fact that I keep being convicted as a habitual pharisee; great job on the sermon!
Thank you for the work sheet to follow along with the sermon. Writing things down uses the visual and motor portions of the brain, and not just the auditory. The PRAY and ACTS mnemonic aides add the brains memory and association centers.
Without a Prayer, I Pray
Worldly ills upon weary mind doth prey.
Midst sinful sorrow I "forget" to pray.
For Father's sake and mine MUST I praise!
Rock and blood, the Son beside me stays.
Yet daily from the winding path I stray;
Abba's hopes and dreams for me I betray.
My sins even so by cross washed away,
Right here today and each coming day!
Spirit communing with me in varied way,
I'm not darkly alone, come what may.
Tiwago
I will be sharing His Word at another church this Sunday; please keep me in your prayers.
Opening the church and setting aside time for us each week for a prayer meeting during lent is a great way to help us take time for prayer.
Thank you.
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