From the Edges – Prayerful Solitude

From the Edges – Push Out into the Deep
Pastor Calvin Cook – April 27, 2024
DAY 6 – PRAYERFUL SOLITUDE
Scripture focus – Matthew 14: 22-27 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

My thoughts today are centering around Prayer. Leaving Luke 6 for this day there are still many instances of our need for prayer as we “push out into the deep”. The remembrance of Jesus walking on the water during a storm came to mind. What had a greater impact on me this morning was the reaction of Jesus before the realization of the disciples of a need for prayer.

Here is the thought that really spoke to me – from Matthew 14:23b “he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.” There are many references in scripture of Jesus going off by himself to pray. How then do we respond to prayer. Is it our last defense, used as a leverage to get us out of a situation, or meeting our needs. My further thought would be how do we pray? How do we respond when our prayers are not answered the way we desire. Are we trying to manipulate God and mange God by our prayers. I simply have been reminded of the Lord’s prayer and the words, “thy will be done”. Are we sincere when we pray those words?

What is a greater realization that before we allow the storms of life to guide or control our being, can we for a moment stop and remember of Jesus’s concerns for us, even praying for us, before the situation ever happens. It might not be the situation but how we respond to the situation. We want and desire to be all we can be, but for what reason?

As the Disciples prayed for rescue even for protection it was delivered at the hands of God, through a Jesus rescue. For us the rescue has already been made through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. But sometimes we need to hear once again that was spoken by Jesus in Matthew 14:27 “take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”