“Very early the next morning before daylight, Jesus got up and went to a place where he could be alone and pray.” (Mark 1:35 Contemporary English Version)
Jesus, in the opening verse, not only shows us that we need to find a place where we can be alone, and once there we should pray. He also shows us by example that sometimes the best time to pray is early in the morning. Listen! Why wait until nighttime? Why wait until the weariness wrought through the working day almost guarantees you will fall asleep while talking to the Almighty? Why wait to get up in strength right before you settle in your comfortable bed? Prayer is a good way to start the day and rise up in strength to make it through the day. Prayer is a dialogue where you can communicate with the Lord, speaking to Him, tell Hime whatever you want, and hearing His Spirit respond and communicate back to you.
Friday morning, I got up a little before 1:00 a.m., more precisely about 12:40 a.m. I walked towards the kitchen to get a bottle of water before starting to write, email, and post the daily medication. At night, I always leave two lights on inside the house, a lamp in the dining room and a lamp in the living room. I noticed that the living room was dark. Initially, I thought I had neglected to turn on the lamp or perhaps the bulb had burned out. It was neither. As I looked over on the couch, situated on the west wall of the living room, I saw my wife sitting with her legs crossed on the end of the sofa. Her head was bowed, and her eyes closed. I am not the only one in the house who gets up early, at least not all the time. She heard me and lifted her head and saw me looking in her direction. We waved at each other and spoke. My words were not, “Good morning,” like they should have been, but rather I said, “Why are you not in bed?” She responded, “I’m praying.” She was and in fact in prayer, something she faithfully, regularly does every morning, just usually not that early. She asked me what I want for breakfast. I say, “I’m not ready this early.” She calmly replied, “I know, but I want to be prepared to fix you what you want.” That was nice and kind, considerate, wasn’t it? Now don’t get judgmental, I fix dinner 98% of the time and lunch is a free-for-all. Back to the story.
I believed her, but I could not help saying, jesting as if she was not really praying, “You can get back to your phone call now.” Laughing, alert to my imitating a jealous husband, she replied, “My phone is still in the room. I’m praying.” I redeemed myself by saying, “What I meant was you can get back on the mainline and tell Him what you want.” We laughed again for a brief moment, and then she continued to pray for another 20-30 minutes.
Today, well it is early Saturday morning, right? It really does not matter what day it is, but usually we wake up with so much on our minds on Saturday and the things we have to do. So, I feel that I must pose a question to you. Have you, yes being personal, have you been on “the mainline” yet? Well now would be a good time as any to find a place where you can be alone and have a little talk with Jesus. As you have heard, prayer changes things, and if nothing else it changes you. Think about that fact,
If you say, I don’t know what to say or how to pray, look up the components of Jesus’ Model Prayer (The Lord’s Prayer) found in Matthew 6:5-15. If that is not enough, let the closing words below help you today ready yourself for prayer. Have a super Saturday and don’t forget to pick out your Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes today ready. Do that even if you choose the new day, come as you are option. Tomorrow is the Lord’s Day. We must not skip the assembly of the saints. It benefits you and others. Be blessed!
Now let us have a little talk with Jesus.
Let us tell Him all about our troubles.
He will hear our faintest cry.
He will answer by and by
Now when you feel a little prayer wheel turning.
And you know a little fire is burning.
You will find a little talk with Jesus makes it right.
I may have doubts and fears, my eyes be filled with tears.
But Jesus is a friend who watches day and night.
I go to Him in prayer, He knows my every care.
And just a little talk with Jesus makes it right.
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King