Solitary
Read Mark 1:35-45.
Do you know how much I have to do today? Do you know how many things are on my to-do list? I don't have time to pray! I don't have time to read the Scriptures! Tell you what, how about I do it on the run? I'll pray as I drive (if everyone stays out of my way), and I'll shoot up a quick prayer before I eat (if no one's looking), and maybe, if I'm not too tired, I'll say a "thank you" prayer before I go to bed. How about that? Will that meet my obligation? Will that get me "prayer credit" for today?
I have so many e-mails to answer and so many Facebook friends to check on. Do you know how many tweets I read each and every day? And then there's the late-night television talk show I have to watch. Yes, I know it keeps me up late, but I don't want to be "out of the loop" tomorrow at work when they're all talking about what Jimmy Kimmel had to say. And then there are the YouTube videos to keep up on. It's just so hard to fit it all in. Let's just assume that I will pray for each person whose tweet I read today. How about that?
It is so good to connect with friends over coffee. I could spend hours talking with those particular friends. What do you mean "what did we talk about"? Well, we talked about politics...and the weather, of course...and what our kids are up to. We discussed how the customer service in our coffee shop has gone downhill and how everyone else drives worse than we do. Pray for each other? Why would we do that? We are all busy and important people. We don't have time to pray.
What does that pastor do all week, anyway? Doesn't he just preach on Sundays?
If the Son of God, who was only here for a short time on earth, found time and needed to pray...what does that say about our lack of prayerfulness?
Do you know how much I have to do today? Do you know how many things are on my to-do list? I don't have time to pray! I don't have time to read the Scriptures! Tell you what, how about I do it on the run? I'll pray as I drive (if everyone stays out of my way), and I'll shoot up a quick prayer before I eat (if no one's looking), and maybe, if I'm not too tired, I'll say a "thank you" prayer before I go to bed. How about that? Will that meet my obligation? Will that get me "prayer credit" for today?
"Very 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" (1:35).
I have so many e-mails to answer and so many Facebook friends to check on. Do you know how many tweets I read each and every day? And then there's the late-night television talk show I have to watch. Yes, I know it keeps me up late, but I don't want to be "out of the loop" tomorrow at work when they're all talking about what Jimmy Kimmel had to say. And then there are the YouTube videos to keep up on. It's just so hard to fit it all in. Let's just assume that I will pray for each person whose tweet I read today. How about that?
"Very 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" (1:35).
It is so good to connect with friends over coffee. I could spend hours talking with those particular friends. What do you mean "what did we talk about"? Well, we talked about politics...and the weather, of course...and what our kids are up to. We discussed how the customer service in our coffee shop has gone downhill and how everyone else drives worse than we do. Pray for each other? Why would we do that? We are all busy and important people. We don't have time to pray.
"Very 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" (1:35).
What does that pastor do all week, anyway? Doesn't he just preach on Sundays?
"Very 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" (1:35).
If the Son of God, who was only here for a short time on earth, found time and needed to pray...what does that say about our lack of prayerfulness?
Great point! It's so worth the time to spend it with Him.
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