Saturday 9 Nov 2013

Saturday Reading: Mark 14:39-42

Key Verse: Mark 14:40
40 And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.

Devotion:
I’m sure that most people have experienced being very tired at some stage and I wonder how many would own up to actually falling asleep on the job! The disciples were tired, it was late at night, but Jesus knew that He still had prayers to lift up to His Father in heaven. This is an example to us to show us that we should never shy away from lifting up our own prayers either. Just because we are in the wrong place at the wrong time, or because we are running late or because we have missed out a meal; none of these should ever stop us from praying.

We could go back to Daniel in the Old Testament for our inspiration and be steadfast in our prayers no matter what we have to face up to. But this example is more than just being strong and steadfast. This is about praying when you don’t feel like it. There are going to be many times in your life when you really do not feel like praying, but those are probably going to be the times when you need it most! God is always listening and wants us to always pray!

There are many shortcuts we like to take in life and some of those seem to pay off, but shortcutting prayers does not work! We have a life to live with Christ and in order to live it with Him we need to be constant in prayers. You could say that someone was your best friend, but unless you are going to spend time talking to them and being with them, how can you maintain that friendship?

Being a friend of Christ means spending time with Him and also waiting on Him for an answer as well. What good would it be if we shouted out our prayers and then ran off to join in with the world, or did not follow that up with time in God’s Word? God speaks to us through His Word and through the people around us. But if we are hanging out with non-Christians then how are we going to hear from God when all we will hear is the world shouting through the people around us?

Points to Ponder:
Do you spend enough time with friends?

Do you spend enough time with God?