Earnest Prayer

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35). This occasion is early in Mark, but occurred about the second year of Jesus’ ministry. (Matthew, Mark and Luke pass from Jesus’ baptism and temptation, to after John the Baptist had been imprisoned. Only John reports on the interim.)

Another example of earnest prayer would come perhaps a year later. “It came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). In both cases a weighty decision was on his mind about the conduct of his ministry. After the first episode, though “all men” sought him, he saw best to move to new places to serve (Mark 1:38). After the second, he chose from among his disciples 12 who would be his special apostles.

Consecration involves seeking the direction of God in the issues of life – and then following it. Sometimes determining God’s will is more difficult than the doing, sometimes the reverse. Let us follow the example of the master. Let us seek heavenly wisdom as sincerely as we may, and then follow it.