Let Us Pray

Mark 1:35
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.

Jesus awakens and slips out of peter's slumbering household, unheard and unseen. The previous evening had been marked by cacophonous, overbearing crowds, desperate for healing of illnesses and demonic possessions. Jesus had cured all that came to him. Now, He needs to be away from all distractions and demands upon Him; He longs to spend quiet moments in prayer, communing with His Father in Heaven. In so doing, His strength and resolve are renewed and any fatigue or uncertainty melts away. This time spent in prayer is so beneficial that, when the disciples locate Him after much searching, Jesus is prepared for the next stage of His journey: Spreading the good news of God's Kingdom throughout all Judea.

When and where do you pray? Do you pray best when, like Jesus, you can find a solitary place in which to be still and know that He is God? Are your prayers lifted silently or aloud? Can you focus on prayers offered in church, or does being in a large group dilute your concentration? Are you practicing contemplative prayer? Have you ever considered attempting to spend a day in prayer without ceasing? Would you be so kind as to share your prayer habits on this blog for the benefit of other readers? What makes prayer so real and true for you might be just what someone else needs to hear.

"Let us pray without end, and when we're finished, start again; like breathing out and breathing in. Oh, let us pray!" ~ Steven Curtis Chapman

Readings
Psalms 25 or 9, 15
1 Samuel 18:5-16, 27b-30
Acts 11:19-30
Mark 1:29-45