Prayer Pointers

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and departed to a desolate place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35

Honest confession:  I never read that verse without feeling convicted.  Honest celebration:  I never read that verse without feeling encouraged.

Through the years, people have penned many words about prayer, but all the sentences can be summed up in a few.  For us to know God, grow in God, and glorify God, prayer is important, and prayer is imperative.

No evidence is more persuasive than Jesus’ own example—“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and departed to a desolate place, where he prayed”(Mk 1:35).  If the One who was one with the Father found it necessary to spend time alone together, we surely can’t claim an exemption. And really we don’t want to. 

We know that prayer matters much and makes a major difference in our attitudes, actions, and affections.  We know that there is power and peace in purposeful, private prayer that can never be explained only experienced, and we’ll be hard-pressed to meet a Christian who doesn’t desire to do so.  We just don’t always want to put forth the effort.

That’s why this passage is so perfect.  It shows us that we should. It makes us wish we would.  And it offers clues to how we can.

Jesus got up “very early in the morning while it was still dark.”  This is not proof that our quiet time must be before breakfast, but it should be the priority of the day.  Spending time with God is worth losing sleep or parting with other plans. We will never regret giving God our most and our best.

Jesus “went to a desolate place.” A bit of distance from the ordinary allowed Him to be free from distractions and able to focus fully on His Father.  Most of us need to further develop the discipline of desolation and learn to be with God and God alone. We need to stop reviewing our schedules, looking at our lists, and checking our cell phones, and we need to start savoring our Savior.

And when Jesus got there, “he prayed.”  Prayer isn’t talking to God; it’s talking with God—a fully engaged two-way conversation.   Sometimes we have a lot to say and that’s okay, but God has words in His Word we always need to here.  We talk to God by lifting up our praise and pouring out our concerns, and we listen to Him by looking at the comfort, assurance, and instruction in the Bible.

We should pray throughout the entire day, maintaining constant communication with the Father about our current events, but just like in a good marriage where the short and sweet interactions are meaningful because of other long and deep discussions, we should have regular, extended times of prayer—conversations that go beyond the happenings of the moment to the matters of the heart,

You don’t find time to pray like this—you make it.  And if your calendar is so crammed that you feel like you can’t, it’s time to streamline the schedule.  Something’s gotta go so you can know and grow and glorify God the way He wants you to and the way He is worthy of.

By the way, Jesus stayed away so long that Peter organized a search party which found Him prepared by prayer for the purpose of the day and ready to roll.  “Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.”  When we choose time together with God, He gets us ready for the rest.

So much in life seems urgent, but so little is truly important.

Pray so long that people come looking, and you'll be amazed at what you find.