Daily Lesson for July 17, 2017

Today's Daily Lesson comes from Mark 1:35 through 39:

35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ 38He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ 39And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Jesus prayed. 

Before all of the major events of Jesus' ministry he prayed. He prayed before leaving Capernaum and broadening his work throughout all of Galilee. He prayed before the Sermon on the Plain. He prayed before walking on water. He prayed before the Transfiguration. And He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before enduring the cross. 

Jesus prayed just before all of the seminal events of his ministry took place. Or, another way to look at it is, all the seminal events of Jesus' ministry took place after he prayed.  And he prayed all the time. 

He prayed for provision. He prayed for guidance. He prayed for courage. He prayed for strength. He prayed for the faith to surrender His own will to the will of His Father. He prayed for the power to forgive. He prayed for others. He prayed for everything. He prayed all the time. 

Now, let us pray . . .