How do you usually start your day? Does it begin by making your bed, preparing breakfast for your family, or making that first glorious cup of coffee? While we may not put much thought into how we start our days, the way we begin each day is essential. The way we begin our day sets the course for the rest of the day. While there are many necessary things to do to start the day, there is one most important thing that often gets overlooked: spending time in prayer first thing, before doing anything else.
Jesus set an example for us of making it a priority to spend time with God the Father in prayer, and we can read about His example in Mark 1. In this chapter, we read about a day when Jesus healed many people. He healed the mother of one of His disciples, Simon Peter, and by the evening, many people were brought to Jesus for healing. The very next morning, Jesus could have slept in and rested or hopped out of bed and gone straight to healing and helping more people, but instead, He took time to be with His Father. Scripture tells us that, "before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray" (verse 35). Several aspects of Jesus' time in prayer in Mark 1 stand out. First, we learn that Jesus got up "before daybreak." It was still dark outside, and most people were still sleeping, but Jesus got up and took time to pray and be with His Father. The second thing that stands out is that He went to an "isolated place" to pray. Jesus went to a place where He could be alone with God the Father without distractions so that He could focus His mind and heart on Him. There is one more thing to note about Jesus' prayer life, but for this nugget, we must turn to Luke chapter 5. Luke 5:14 says that "Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer." Jesus did not take time to pray occasionally. He got away by Himself and prayed often. Prayer was a habit for Him.
Friends, if Jesus, the Son of God, needed regular and consistent communion with God the Father, you and I do as well. We can follow His example by making time first thing every day to pray and talk to Him. He is waiting for us to come to Him. What are you waiting for?
If you have not yet, pause now and pray to God. Tell Him what is on your heart and mind. Ask Him to help you walk through the rest of your day. Starting tomorrow and for the rest of the week, commit to beginning your day in prayer before doing anything else. Take note of the impact that beginning each day in prayer has, and commit to carrying out this habit beyond this week so that it becomes a daily habit.
1This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. It began 2 just as the prophet Isaiah had written:
“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
and he will prepare your way.
3 He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!’”
4 This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. 5 All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 6 His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.
7 John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”
9 One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
12 The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, 13 where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.
14 Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. 15 “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
16 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 17 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 18 And they left their nets at once and followed him.
19 A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. 20 He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.
21 Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.
23 Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24 “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. 26 At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.
27 Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!” 28 The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee.
29 After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. 31 So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.
32 That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. 33 The whole town gathered at the door to watch. 34 So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.
35 Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
