Note: This post is associated with a call to 50 days of prayer at Bethel Church of Houston in association with the Houston Church Planting Network. You can find the HCPN daily devotion by following this link: Day 10
Mark records a day in the life of Jesus as follows:
As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
Mark 1:29-33
This appears to be on top of what had already been an extended time of busy ministry. Mark then tells us, after an exhausting day extending into the evening: “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” (Mark 1: 35). Andrew Murray comments on this text:
The work of the day and evening had exhausted Him. In His healing of the sick and casting out devils, power had gone out of Him. While others still slept, He went away to pray and to renew His strength in communion with the Father.”
The Prayer Life by Andrew Murray (p. 55)
It is a temptation after a time of exhausting work or ministry to seek refreshment somewhere other than in the presence of the Father. Yet, even Jesus needed such time of prayer. The next section of Mark’s story indicated Jesus was energized to continue the mission.
Prayer refuels us for our mission of spreading the good news of Jesus in both word and deed in the workplace, the neighborhood, the city and across the globe.
