January 20, 2012 Purposeful Prayer

Purposeful Prayer

Mark 1:35 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. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else — to the nearby villages — so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

WHAT DO you think about prayer? What’s your response when someone tells you, “I’m praying for you.” or “You need to pray about it.”
One of the fascinating pictures of Jesus is how gets up early in the morning and goes to be alone in prayer. Isn’t it of interest to you that the Son of God purposefully goes to pray alone to the Father? Let that sink in.
Jesus needs the “alone time” with the Father before he begins his day. He needs to prepare for the ministry he’s about to do. That ministry focus is his preaching as he says, “This is why I have come.”
It is clear then, that one purpose of Jesus’ prayers was to prepare for the preaching—the purpose for which he had come.
Now consider your own life. What is your purpose in life right now? Being a mom? A dad? Being a good worker? Being a student? Being a business leader? Being a child of God? Becoming someone with special purpose? Modeling the Son of God, what’s a good thing to do in the purpose of your life?
Of course, it is to pray for God’s strength, guidance, wisdom and peace in your purpose. That is what Jesus models for you. That is the Father’s desire for you.

Pause and consider that as you pray into your life’s purpose, your life will become more purposeful in Christ Jesus.