Read Mark 6:45-46
I’m Compelled To Pray!
After feeding the 5,000 men, plus women and children, Jesus immediately made his disciples get into the boat and go to the other side to Bethdsaida while he stayed and sent the multitude away. After which, Jesus departed to the mountain to pray. Jesus prayed well into the night: anywhere between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m..
We previously talked about the need to rest our bodies and be rejuvenated but there are also many times we need to rest our spiritual bodies and be rejuvenated through prayer. Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray.” As we look throughout scriptures, when it mentions Jesus praying, it most often is followed by Jesus doing many miracles or preparing for a time of ministry. Prayer was not just important but essential. Here’s Jesus, sending away both his disciples and the multitude so he can go up the mountain to pray. It’s important! I can’t express it enough. We don’t know exactly what Jesus prayed, but let me speculate based upon the timing of his prayer: it was after teaching and feeding around 15,000 people through a miracle, and it was before his upcoming miracles where he walks on water and eventually heals a lot of sick people. Perhaps his prayers consisted of:
1. Perhaps Thanksgiving. I can see a time of Thanksgiving for all that had happened. I know for me, after the time of seeing God at work through an event, an activity, or outreach, I’m compelled in my spirit to praise God for all he did. My mind is flooded with a list of things to thank God for. In my spirit I feel like I can’t thank him enough despite my futile attempts.
2. Perhaps Prayers of Joy. For me, the joy of the Lord is my strength. This Joy can be an expression of Thanksgiving or prayers of joy for what is yet to come. I get excited when I think about what God has done, and I get excited when I anticipate what is yet to come. For me, Joy rejuvenates my soul.
3. Perhaps Prayers of Humility, Surrender, and Vision. Perhaps Jesus was broken before God while filled with compassion for those who have yet to hear the words of Jesus and experience his love through miracles. I often plead with God in Brokenness to use me despite my imperfections. I want to see people Ministered to by the Holy Spirit. I want to be used by God! I recognize my weaknesses and recognize that apart from God I can do nothing. I surrender my life before the Lord, desiring his spirit to change me and use me.
4. Perhaps Jesus Prayed For People. Perhaps Jesus was flooded with names of people who he had ministered to in the past and was praying for them. Perhaps he was flooded with groups of people he was soon to minister to. Perhaps he was praying for the needs that were yet to come and doing so with a heart of love and compassion.
Like I said, I don’t know exactly what his prayers consisted of, but I can say this, it wasn’t all about himself.
Lord help us be praying people!!!
