WEEK 31, Day 1, Monday, 29 July 2019

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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Monday, 29 July 19:

Luke 6:12-13 — In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles….

Jesus modelled decision-making for us. His decisions came out of tremendous prayer. Of course, he knew the unchanging word of God inside and out, but prayer was a vital part of His leading by the Holy Spirit in dynamic circumstances. Jesus said, “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak…. Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise…. I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (John 12:49; John 5:19, 30) In prayer, Jesus saw what the Father was doing and joined Him, applying God’s word appropriately, saying only what the Father told Him to say, and doing only what the Father told Him to do.

“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.” (Mark 1:35) “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16) “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” (Luke 22:44) Jesus prayed continuously, passionately, and intensely. When challenges came, He prayed even more. Also, Jesus made it clear that some problems can be solved by nothing but prayer — “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” (Mark 9:29)

How is your prayer life?

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 29 July 19: Prioritize prayer this day forward – “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)