"Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray."
Mark 1:35
Mark 1:35
To get a better illustrate this scene we must read our key verse in the NASB:
"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."
We need to rewind a few frames in the scene to see what was happening with Jesus the night before.
Simon's mother-in-law was very sick. They took Jesus to her house so he could heal her. He did and the word of the healing spread quickly. After dinner, a line formed outside the in-law's house: people who needed healing. The whole town peeked through the windows to watch the miracles. Jesus had been healing people all day and worked through much of the night. He was fully God and fully man, but He had to have been exhausted.
Have you ever worked hard all day and most of a the night serving and taking care of people? Have you ever been exhausted? These are silly questions, I know. You might be thinking, "Does she have a webcam in my house?" This is my life, too, let me tell you. How do we deal when life like this? (For me, this is life everyday.) We do what Jesus did. He went to bed when He got the chance then got up while it was still dark, leaving His comfortable sleeping place to go and pray.
Like us, Jesus had given of Himself to people all day and most the night. If anyone deserved to "sleep in" it was Jesus. But Jesus felt it was more important to meet with His Father than to sleep. Notice the scripture said it was dark. Also, notice the scripture did not say anything about having coffee and breakfast first. He did not even tell His disciples where he was going. What an example!
For over 10 years I have been meeting with my sweet Jesus "while it was still dark." He lovingly meets me, stinky breath and all. This is hard with a life as busy as mine, many days I want to "sleep in." (Sometimes I do, see Psalm 127:3) But I have learned what Jesus knew: God knows what the day has in store for me and He wants to fill me up and prepare for the day's adventure. (Jesus had more "casting out" to do the next day.)
If you don't get up and leave your comfortable sleeping place to pray with the Lord each day, try it. Give Him the first 10 minutes of each day. Will it make your day less busy? Will it help the ones you are loving and serving for be more grateful? I can't promise a yes to either of those questions but I can promise this: whatever you face at whatever the pace, you will be able to handle whatever comes your way because you spend time with "Time Keeper."
11 Comments:
Thank you Wendy for this refreshing way to start the day. I agree with you, giving God the first minutes of my day make such a difference! Since I have been doing it, I feel really off-kilter if I don't. I actually have two periods a day where I devote my time to God. I bookend my day. My nights, with the lights off, I go through a stretch routine, and then spend time in prayer and meditation. I review my day and pray intercessory prayers usually. In the morning, when it is still dark, I come in to the living room and do my daily Chronological Bible reading. I admit, I usually make coffee, but I feel refreshed and renewed after this period of time.
Since this has been my pattern, I even see physical changes. I stand up straighter. My aches and pains are fewer. My face has a glow, and I owe it to the time I spend with God each day.
Today, I was puzzled by the reading in Luke 4 where Jesus says Prophets are not accepted in their hometown, and then He went on to talk about Elijah and Elisha and how even though there were needy people in their home town, they were not sent to those people. I wondered why that was. I didn't understand why they were sent to foreigners instead. I have always heard the adage "charity starts at home". I read David Guzik's commentary here: http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?AuthorID=2&contentID=7912&commInfo=31&topic=Luke
He pointed out that the people in the Temple were expecting Jesus to perform a miracle as a special favor because He was in His hometown. But Jesus didn't perform miracles for that reason, and by saying what He did, He pointed out to them that their rejection of Him had more to do with their state of mind and heart than anything to do with Him.
He also pointed out that God uses His miraculous power in unexpected ways, often sending it to the unexpected; the people we may think are farthest from God, or the least deserving. It just goes to show that God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. We should not be surprised when He points that out again and again!
I am really enjoying these readings. There is so much new every day! I wish you all a blessed day and I want to again say I am praying for all of you!
Karen, Basel
Karen that was really helpful becasue I also didn't understand the passages about Jesus' home town. Thank you! Jeannie, Richmond VA
Karen that was really helpful becasue I also didn't understand the passages about Jesus' home town. Thank you! Jeannie, Richmond VA
Thanks, Karen. When reading this mornings passages, I wondered why the discussion of Elijah and Elisha were so upsetting to those in His hometown. Thank-you for helping out! :)
nancy
Wendy, I have always loved this passage. To think that Jesus, who is part of the Trinity, still got up and prayed to his Father, what an example for us. If he needed to spend time with God, how much more we do. Like you, I have been rising for so many years to spend time with the Lord, and have countless journals of my walk with Him. Although my concentrated time is in the morning, I find that like Brother Lawrence writes about, I practice knowing His presence and talking to Him all day long.
What struck me this morning was something you actually mentioned in your post. “When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever.” Matthew 8:14
Peter’s mother-in-law.
Peter was married.
I wonder how “Mrs. Peter” felt about her husband being one of Jesus close companions. I wonder if she ever felt like her husband didn’t give her enough of his time. I wonder if she resented managing the household when he was gone travelling so much. I wonder if she was envious of the time her husband was blessed to spend with the Messiah. I wonder if she was lonely. I wonder if she felt like she lived in a shadow, without even a name. I wonder if she questioned or became angry as he walked away from his fishing business without even talking it over with her. I wonder if she struggled being married to a man in full time ministry. I wonder how she felt as she saw his weaknesses portrayed in his denial of Christ.
I think as wife’s we can go through seasons where it might feel like our husband’s are married to their job…or their sports team…or their tools…or their ministry position and we feel abandoned. I’m sure Peter’s wife was no different than you or I. I’m sure she often had to pray for understanding and patience.
This morning I find myself praying for the spouse of those who's lives have taken them away from family for a season for whatever reason. Praying they will know the Lord's presence in a very real way.
Blessings to you all today,
Joy
Good Morning~
Wendy, this passage and post is very fitting for me today as I get up, still tired, but know that if I don't start the day in prayer and in the Word my day will not go smoothly. My son Will has croup right now, he was home from school yesterday and will be home today as well. I was up on and off throughout the night with him coughing. He slept better last night, but as all you moms know, anytime they cough or anything it wakes you up.
I learned years ago that if I don't start the day in prayer then I just don't have a good day. When Will was a baby and took naps I used that time to spend in The Word and prayer, but as he got older and the naps got fewer I knew I needed to change my routine. I still needed that time with Jesus desperately and so I began to get up early. Will has always been an early riser, getting up about 4:30 when he 1-2 years old. That got my body used to waking up early and I have ever since. This early morning is my favorite part of the day, my most essential part of the day. I can't do all I need to do each day unless I lay it all at Jesus feet and ask Him to put my day in the right order.
Karen thanks for the insights :) The readings have been wonderful!
Hope you all have a great day! I will be taking Will into the doctor. He just got up and coughing worse and now his nose is all goopy and stopped up as well. Looks like a few more days at home.
Blessings,
Brandee, TN
Good Morning Everyone!
I too rise early to spend time with God. My Husband and I go to work at 5 and 6am so I get up between 2:45 and 3:15 and he rises around 3:45. This gives me about a half an hour by myself to read and pray and then he is doing his devotions too for a while so usually get another few minutes to finish a devotion or comment. I agree with you all that starting the day with God makes the day go right.
Karen - thanks for the info, I always thought Jesus wasn't accepted because people couldn't see beyond His human childhood.
Joy - good catch Peter married...
Brandee - I have already prayed for you and Will.
Wendy - as always thank you for your busy life and giving to us in prayer and in revelation knowledge.
Lynn - OR
Isnt' the reading amazing? I am enjoying it so.
Thank you Karen for helping to clarify Jesus' statement about the prophets being sent where they were. I too went "hhhmmm" when I read it.
I noted in Matthew 4, when Jesus called to the disciples, they "left their nets AT ONCE" and they "IMMEDIATELY" followed Him. Something for me to reflect on as I know I drag my feet many times instead of obeying right now.
Happy Tuesday
Morgen - MN
Morning, Ladies~
Wendy, I just love how you put your morning time, "He wants to fill me up and prepare me for the day's adventure;" this is exactly how I feel. God has drawn me to Him during this early time of day, it has evolved over the years and has become my favorite time of the day. It sets the tone for the rest of the day. It focuses my mind right off the bat where it needs to be. My outdoor prayer time is something else God has led me to do. There is nothing like being outdoors in nature without any home distractions. I've grown to love God's environment so much more. It's made me become aware of the "moments." It's slowed me down throughout the rest of the day, to take notice of His beauty around me. Many times my Bible reading is reaffirmed to me by Him, when I'm walking.
karen-thanks for the additional information! As I read through chapter 4, I took it that those in "his home town," knew about Him, so it was time for Jesus to move on. To tell "more," cities that did not know about God throughout Judea.
As tired as Jesus must have been (always!), he pressed on, "I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent" (Luke 4:43). Jesus was truly heartbroken for the sinners. What a role-model for us to follow.
Hugs & prayer's coming your way!
Lori-AZ
Lynn, thanks so much for the prayers. Poor guy, he has been doing so good with not getting sick up until this week. He struggles like I have with being sick alot. I know he was exposed to croup at school and he has so many problems with his nose it does not surprise me it has affected that as well. He will probably be ok after a day or two of meds. I was trying to avoid taking him to the doctor, but looks like we are going to need to go at this point.
Morgen, I marked those passages in my Bible as well. I put a box around the words "at once" and "immediately." Oh how to be like those disciples and follow at once! Whatever He says do follow right then.
Please pray for me today ladies, I am tired and my nerves are edgy. Will got up right when I started responding on here and so I have been listening to sponge bob since 5:30 this morning. Does not make for a good start to the day. Jesus vs sponge bob, lol. I can't block out other noise real well and like it quite. I went outside a minute and just said, "help me" and I plan on having that same prayer all day as many times as it takes. Just help me Jesus!
Thanks Wendy for the reminder that I need to get back to my early morning time with the Lord. Brandee I'll be praying for you & your son that all will be well once again. Karen I enjoyed reading the blue letter bible commentary. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings & Peace, Mary
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