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!”
Mark 1:35-37
The Scriptures reveal a glimpse into Jesus’ life. He was one that got up early to go and pray. It is interesting that Jesus spent much time in prayer in the morning and throughout the day the ministry was quick. Rise. Be Healed. Get up and walk. Today we mix it up – we spend little time in prayer in the morning and hours in ministry during the day. Maybe, Jesus knew something we didn’t.
Ministry in our world does not really put us in situations with the physically deaf and blind. Ministry today puts us in situations where we are surrounded by spiritually deaf and blind. Everyday in our offices, in our zoom meetings, in our grocery shopping, in our walks of life we meet people who are blinded by the deceiver of this world. Jesus walked around opening ears and opening eyes – maybe we too can one day open deaf ears and blind eyes (physically & spiritually)!
But, unlike Jesus, it seems I have fallen into the trap that I have little prayer in the morning and try to do hours of ministry during the day.
One of the reasons I believe we fall into this trap is that we fall into the trap of self-sufficiency. We work hard, we recognize our natural abilities, we use our gifts, training, intellect, expertise, and experience and we chart plans and solutions to reach our goals and achievements. In other words, we get good at what we do.
But the danger of getting good is the danger of becoming self-sufficient.
We often pray into our weaknesses and needs, but we rarely pray into our strengths. When we become self-sufficient, we stop praying. But when we stop praying we become fruitless.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
Lifespring has been blessed with so much. We have highly intelligent and talented people in our church family. Did you know Arthur Lee has 2 undergraduate degrees?! One in computers and one in biology? I struggled getting 1 degree, he got 2! We are so blessed in this church family with good people able to do good things. Yet we need to stay desperate, stay broken and stay in prayer with the King.
It was the Pharisees that stopped people from coming to Jesus.
It was the fine that looked at Jesus from afar.
But it was the broken that ran to Him.
Who will the Lifespring family be?
I beg you Lifespring, if you need to stop anything – if you are serving, if you are tithing, if you are leading – give that up before you give up praying.