If Jesus needed something, I probably need it too. He needed to check in with His Father and deal with whatever was working in and on Him. He needed it often. Sometimes, He needed it spontaneously. Frequently, He needed it in little slots of time between interruptions. He did not always get seclusion and solitude, but He built it in.
He knew it would not last forever. He would be called back into the fray, back among the hurting masses. He would be drawn back into the indignities of suffering, oppression, and spiritual drought and He would engage.
We are talking about our Savior, but also, our Master, our leader, and our role model.
We are following Him.
David knew His frailties. Jesus, after emptying Himself, became vulnerable to those same frailties.
Every saint has been a sinner and has needed confession. The sinless One, however, bore the sins of the people, not His own. It was an even greater burden.
He needed prayer and so do we.
Below are my reflections on this day of Lent and some of the suggested scriptures.
Three things I must do in the morning if nothing else (Psalm 5:3):
1. Make my voice heard before God.
2. Lay my requests before God.
3. Wait expectantly before God.
Which of these three is the greatest challenge for you? Which brings you the greatest joy?
- No fear! Psalm 27:1: He is the (a) light, (b) salvation, and (c) stronghold of my life. I am not afraid.
- I ask one thing: to dwell in His presence that I might gaze. There, I am safe. (Psalm 27:4-5)
- To dwell and to gaze.
- I am confident that I will see. (v. 13). Therefore, I wait. (v 14)
- The verdict is in (Psalm 51): I need mercy. The sentence has been passed: mercy to me accompanied by a new heart! Joy has been restored. I will. I will teach. I will declare. Keep me in your presence, Lord. Keep my spirit willing. Prosper Your Kingdom. This prayer, I bring with a broken and contrite heart.
- As Isaac mourned for Joseph, so the Lord has mourned for us and longed for our return. (Genesis 37:25-36)
- I Corinthians 2:1-13: How often, Lord, I have relied on my own human wisdom, insights, and clever thoughts to know and communicate that which eye cannot see nor ear hear, that which my heart cannot conceive? I know, at least today, that they are disclosed by Your Spirit. Tune my heart spiritually to Your Spirit today that Your power might be demonstrated in my weakness.
Mark 1:29-45:
I see Jesus, here, Lord, responding to needs, some of the folks, He knew well, some came from seemingly nowhere and in the immediacy of the moment, He knew them and healed them, spending Himself and Your resources.
Then, He retreated to be with You. That is, so often, so repeatedly, boringly, stupidly, often that I am embarrassed to say it, what I am tempted to skip. Take me to the solitary place with You and hold me there until You are ready for me to leave.
And You shall be ready, because some leprous beggar will come, and I will, with Jesus, be indignant at His suffering and my desire shall be to declare, "Be clean," and speak to Him the healing that You once and often spoke to me,
Keep me in check today, Lord. In Jesus' Name. Amen
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