Early in the Morning, while it was still Dark

Published on Prayer

The Lord Jesus had a time for prayer each day. He arose early in the morning, and went to a place where he could be alone. There, he was absorbed in prayer.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The Lord Jesus woke up early and went off into the wilderness, where he prayed.

Why? Did he expect a tough day? Were crucial things at stake? Was he unable to sleep?

He had had tremendous success the previous day. Perhaps he was mulling what to do with that success. Should he stay? In one day he became successful and famous and accepted.

His success in that location had quickly become the familiar thing. It was known. To stay would be the easier thing.

But after prayer, Jesus chose to leave. He chose to face the unknown. He chose the wilderness. He chose chaos instead of predictability.

Opening yourself to the will of God is risky. Discernment is scary. The wilderness is scary, and Christ’s call is to come and die to self. Will you follow God’s will or your own?

Having left behind success and security, fame and acceptance and everything else, Jesus finds much, much more.

Do you have a regular time for prayer each day?

 

BIBLE VERSES

 

Exodus 34:4. He chiseled two tablets of stone like the first; then Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up to Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand two stone tablets.

Joshua 6:12. Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the LORD’s ark.

Psalm 5:3. LORD, in the morning you shall hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly.

Matthew 14:23. After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone.

Mark 1:35. Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.

Mark 6:46. After he had taken leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray.

Luke 5:16. But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed.

Luke 9:18. As he was praying alone, the disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do the multitudes say that I am?”

 

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.