Day 29
“And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there” (Mark 1:35). “You’d think if Jesus was the Son of God, He wouldn’t need to pray. Or at least he wouldn’t need a specific prayer time because He’d be in such a constant state of prayer. You’d expect Him to have a direct line to His Heavenly Father, like broadband to heaven. At the least, you’d think Jesus could do a better job of tuning out the noise of the world. But surprisingly, Jesus seemed to need time with God just as much as we do.”
-Paul E. Miller, A Praying Life
THE PRIORITY OF PRAYER
Jesus needed regular, daily, direct communication with His Heavenly Father. So do we! He demonstrated and taught this Kingdom priority throughout His ministry. Along the journey, individual and congregational prayer can become a low priority or an overlooked practice. Prayer becomes an “emergency evacuation procedure” instead of our “daily strength and sustenance.” Often the problem is the praying; it is infrequent, powerless, and unfocused.
What steps can you begin taking today in order to re-establish the priority of prayer in your own life? Ask God to help you make a plan for how you are going to continue to pray faithfully after these 40 days are finished.
PRAY…
Dear God, at times I have neglected the moment-by-moment practice of prayer in my own life. Please forgive me, and by Your grace move me towards You every day by causing My heart to long for fellowship and communication with You all through the day. Lead our church family to a renewed devotion to prayer focused on Your Kingdom agenda. Please stir our hearts to seek You as though we are completely helpless apart from You, which we are (John 15:5). I ask this humbly in Jesus Name, Amen.
Sourced From State Convention of Baptists in Ohio | scbo.org