PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Mark 1:35-39
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus prayed.” (Mark 1:35)
“Let us go… to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also.” (Mark 1:38)
As followers of Jesus, we look to Jesus for guidance in how to live.
Here we see Jesus prioritizing his time – his time with God and with others.
How do you prioritize your time, how important is prayer in your scheduling?
How do you respond to pressure from others?
Do you let others determine what you do, when and how?
Jesus makes time with God first priority and doing God’s will his second priority.
Time with God is what clarifies what his purpose and priorities need to be.
He knows why he has come, what his calling is, and what he must do.
People will always have expectations of us.
Success isn’t doing what others want, nor what we want, but what God wants.
And we can’t know what that is unless we spend time with God finding out.
Time alone with God will anchor us in our identity and purpose in him.
Knowing this, we will be able to say, “this is why I have come!” (v.39)
PRAYER
Lord, my priorities are out of alignment. I am becoming a slave to the expectations of others rather than a servant to you and yours. Help me to put first things first!
“went off to a solitary place”. The distractions, concerns, busyness of life can intrude on our time to reflect – to be still and listen. I know I need to take the time – it’s best in the morning when my mind is fresh – however sometimes the ‘to do list’ for the day starts to nag me and erodes that special time. Yet habits are good – they make a daily time of reflection happen. I regret it when I can’t take the time because of a pressing agenda. I do treasure this time of reflection! It is my away from it all space! Lord help me to guard from being too busy not take the time to be with you alone. I am grateful that you walk with me through your spirit throughout the day!
First things first each morning. If I do not spend time with God when I greet the new day in His name, I don’t find time during the day to read His Word. The day needs to start and end with Him. Only then can I truly go forward in His name. I am His servant and I need the right mindset to live for Him. I need to spend time with the Lord and His Word is my Guide as I live this day for Him. His Word is the Light in which I need to travel each day.
1. Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
2. Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
3. Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.
4. Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.