Verse of the Day 9/28

Mark 1:35 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) ³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there.

 

Jonathan Edwards wrote, "True religion disposes a person to be much alone in solitary places for holy meditation and prayer...  True grace delights in secret converse with God."  Jesus himself gives us an example of this in today's verse.  If He needed time with the Father, how much more do we.

 

Notice the verbs that are used here.  He got up, went out, made his way and prayed.  Its not a casual thing, laying in bed, perhaps reading a short devotional, offering a quick prayer and then going about the business of the day, never to find that time alone with God.  The first order of business in our relationship, at some point in the day is finding your place where you can be alone with God, spending time in His Word and in prayer, and taking Him with you into the day.

 

I'm not saying that it has to be a first thing in the morning thing.  I'm a morning person, its easy for me.  Maybe you are a "mid-day" person or even a late night person.  Regardless, what Edwards pointed to and what Jesus exemplified was a need and a dedication, a concentrated effort to find a time and place to be alone with the Father.

 

I've heard it said that "solitude with God won't consistently occur without intentionality".  What are some of the things you'll do today with "intentionality"?  Chances are it will reveal what are priorities in your life.  Is spending time alone with the Saviour one of them?
 

 

Blessings,
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com

 

Mark 1:35-39   Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 ³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there. ³⁶ Simon and his companions went searching for Him. ³⁷ They found Him and said, "Everyone's looking for You!"

    ³⁸ And He said to them, "Let's go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come." ³⁹ So He went into all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.