This week in Crisis Counsels our focus is on the following passage in the gospel of Mark:

In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.”
Mark 1:35–38

This passage gives us the clearest Biblical picture of Jesus’ practice of prayer. He began his day with a quiet time of prayer, then launched into activity. Notice how Simon and others sought him out and said, “Everyone is searching for you.” You can see why Jesus had to get up early and go out to a deserted place! In our own lives we may be besieged by all sorts of claims on our attention. What Jesus shows us is the importance of beginning the day with our attention directed to God. Then we are rightly enabled to address the tasks that come.

Prayer – We look to You, O God, to guide and strengthen us for each day. Click To Tweet

If you missed Sunday worship, you can join with the recorded service of either the 9:30 or 10:30 worship hours at live.kentmethodist.org

About the Author

Dr. David A. Palmer has been the senior pastor at the United Methodist Church of Kent since 1995. He has a B.A. from Wittenberg University, a Master of Divinity from Duke University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary. A native of Wooster, Ohio, he has served three other churches in east Ohio before coming to Kent. He and his wife, Mavis, have three children.