This post is part of a 40-day journey following Jesus in his prayer life. We’ll explore virtually every reference in the Gospels to Jesus and prayer. For a more in-depth treatment, see my book Prayers from the Pit.
“Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land” (Mark 6:45-47 ESV).
Jesus dismisses the crowd whom he’s fed. He releases the disciples whom he’s training. He seeks a place safe from interruption –the mountain. And he prays. Jesus was unwilling for his prayer life to be dictated by circumstances. Though surrounded by a throng in need of provision and a team in need of preparation, Jesus carves out time for prayer.
Too often we pray only when the right situation finds us. We blame our surroundings, our season in life, or our schedule for our lack of prayer. Yet Jesus did not. Circumstances did not dictate his prayer life. His prayer life dictated his circumstances. Jesus didn’t wait for the right situation to find him. He created the right situation.
What keeps you from prayer? How might you overcome that barrier today? What or who do you need to dismiss or release today so that you might pray?
