Discipline, Devotion, and Dependence
An article from Alvin Malave
He proclaimed the good news, chose His disciples, drove out demons, taught in the synagogue, and cured His new friend's mother-in-law of a nasty fever. As the day carried on into the evening this eventful ministry turned into an all-night healing and deliverance service. Hitting the snooze button, a dozen times would have been a temptation for most of us. Not Jesus. "Very early morning, while it was still dark. Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed" (Mark 1:35).
The Lord shows great discipline, He is exercising control over His own desires, waking early in the morning. The Lord shows great devotion, as He wakes up before any interruptions to commune with the Father. And the Lord shows great dependence on the Father as He was to go on preaching, healing, and eventually give His life for us. If prayer was necessary for Jesus, how much more necessary is it for us?
Prayer is necessary as a daily discipline. If we are to train ourselves to be godly. It is also important for us to have a loving attitude with a response of devotion toward God that considers Him as life's priority. Also, since we are dependent on God, there is nothing like adding him to our resources by praying. Maybe there is someone or several people you are thinking of as you read this. Take a moment to stop and pray for them "For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure"(Philippians 2:13).
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