Mark 1:35 35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
As we begin our week together, I find myself in a place of going to a solitary place of prayer and worship. I keep asking; help me Lord to see the light and the trust of your presence for healing and restoration. The Bible is filled with scriptures that point to Jesus taking time and going away to a quiet place in solitude, silence and prayer. Therefore, Jesus is the perfect example of how we are to face days ahead.
This past week, Fairhope Prayer Ministry provided a meditated prayer walk on our church campus. I encourage you to take advantage of this meaningful encounter with the Holy Spirit and your Heavenly Father. If you can’t come to the Prayer Walk, I invite you to find a place of solitude to spend time in prayer.
Jesus has been portrayed as always being available but He knew how to balance His days. In the midst of His ministry calling, He continually had to withdraw from people, daily life activities, and the demands of his ministry to be alone with the Father and pray. His ongoing, intimate relationship with His Father was the source of his compassion, wisdom, and power that we see on every page of the Gospels.
According to early Jewish-Christian tradition, Jesus often prayed at a small grotto on the southeastern side of the Mount of Beatitudes, just across from Tabgha, the modern name for the area where he multiplied the loaves and fishes. The priority of Jesus’ solitude and silence shows up at the very beginning of his ministry. It’s how He made important decisions. It’s how He dealt with troubling emotions like grief. It’s how He dealt with the constant demands of His ministry and cared for His soul and how He taught his disciples. It’s how He prepared for important ministry events. It’s how he prepared for His death on the cross. Prayer and time with God was essential to Jesus facing what God had called Him to do.
Throughout the Gospels it is written where Jesus found it necessary to be away in solitude. Below is a small snapshot of scriptures that show how Jesus needed to go away and be in prayer.
After the multiplication of loaves—Mark 6:46: And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
Immediately before choosing his twelve apostles—Luke 6:12: In these days he went into the hills to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God.
Before Peter’s profession of faith that Jesus is the Christ—Luke 9:18: Now it happened that as he was praying alone the disciples were with him; and he asked them, “Who do the people say that I am?”
Immediately before the Transfiguration—Luke 9:28: Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.
Before teaching the Our Father—Matthew 5:9-13; Luke 11:1-11: He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
Before the crucifixion in the Garden of Gethsemane— “They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.'” (Mark 14:32)Matthew 26:36-45; Luke 22:39-46.
Praying on the Mount of Olives: “When [Jesus and his disciples] had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” (Mark 14:26). This was Jesus’ “usual place” to pray when he was in Jerusalem. (Luke 22:39)
Grieving the loss of His Brother in Christ: When Jesus heard [that John the Baptist had been beheaded], he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.” (Matthew 14:13)
Coming from his own experience of private personal prayer, Jesus teaches his disciples to do the same: “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:5-6)
Jesus’s example of how to face each day is right here in the scriptures. Look no further---Go to a place of quiet, solitude and begin praying. Jesus invites you to join Him as you prepare your heart and soul for the journey ahead. He can handle it all.
Prayer:
Merciful Lord we are still praying to you for our needs and wanting to see the Light of day. Things continue to pile upon us. I know that You, Jesus depended upon your Heavenly Father so I ask You to strengthen each of us as you were strengthen by your Heavenly Father. We have been blessed in days past and we trust He will not fail us now. We love you Lord and will continue to come to you.
In Christ’s Love,
Ann
