Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

January 30
Friday


SLEDDING
AND PRAYING

READ:
Mark 14:32-42
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Now it came to pass
in those days that
[Jesus] went out to the
mountain to pray, and
continued all night in
prayer to God.
__Luke 6:12
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

When the snow flies in Michigan, I like to get my grandkids, grab our plastic sleds, and go slipping and sliding down our backyard. We zoom down the hill for about 10 seconds, and then climb back up for more.

When I travel to Alaska with a bunch of teenagers, we also go sledding. We are hauled by bus nearly to the top of a mountain. We jump on our sleds and, for the next 10 to 20 minutes (depending on levels of bravery), we slide at breakneck speeds down the mountain, holding on for dear life.

Ten seconds in my backyard or 10 minutes down an Alaskan mountain. They're both called sledding, but there is clearly a difference.

I've been thinking about this in regard to prayer. Sometimes we do the "10 seconds in the backyard" kind of praying__a quick, spur-of-the-moment prayer or a short thanks before eating. At other times, we're drawn to "down the mountain" praying__extended, intense times that require concentration and passion in our relationship with Him. Both have their place and are vital to our lives.

Jesus prayed often, and sometimes for a long time (Luke 6:12; Mark 14:32-42). Either way, let us bring the desires of our heart to the God of the backyards and the mountains of our lives. __Dave Branon.

`````````````````Lord, please challenge us to pray constantly__both in``````````````````
`````````````````short sessions and long. As we face the valleys, hills,``````````````````
````````````````and mountains of our lives, may we lift our hearts and``````````````````
``````````````````````minds to You in constant communication.````````````````````````
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The heart of prayer is prayer from the heart.

****************************Today's Bible Reading __ Mark 14:32-42*************************

32 Then they came to a
place which was named
Gethsemane; and He said to
His disciples, "Sit here
while I pray." 33 And He
took Peter, James, and john
with Him, and he began to
be troubled and deeply
distressed. 34 Then He said
to them, "My soul is
exceedingly sorrowful, even
to death. Stay here and
watch."

35 He went a little farther,
and fell on the ground, and
prayed that if it were
possible, the hour might
pass from Him, 36 And He
said, "Abba, Father, all
things are possible for You.
Take this cup away from
Me; nevertheless, not what
I will, but what You will."

37 Then He came and
found them sleeping, and
said to Peter, "Simon, are
you sleeping? Could you
not watch one hour?

38 Watch and pray, lest you
enter into temptation. The
spirit indeed is willing, but
the flesh is weak."

39 Again He went away
and prayed, and spoke the
same words. 40 and when
He returned, He found them
asleep again, for their eyes
were heavy; and they did
not know what to answer
Him.

41 Then He came the third
time and said to them, "Are
you still sleeping and
resting? It is enough! The
hour has come; behold, the
Son of Man is being
betrayed into the hands of
sinners. 42 Rise, let us be
going. See, My betrayer is
at hand."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Prayer was the essence of Jesus' relationship with the Father. He
often withdrew to a solitary place to pray (Mark 1:35); Luke 5:16;
9:18). Sometimes He spent long hours communicating with His
Father (Luke 6:12; John 17) and other times He prayed short, quick
prayers (Matt. 14:19; Luke 23:34,46; John 12:27).