The Devil and Diversion
A Solitary Place – Part 1

Scripture Reading:  Mark 1:29-34

Key Verse:  Mark 1:35

    Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

If you took the time to read the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark, you would quickly realize the busy life Jesus lived.  The calling of His disciples, the drawing out of evil spirits, healing Peter’s mother-in-law, and finally the entire town brought people to Jesus.  Yes, Jesus was far from taking a casual walk through the park.  Yet, in all his busyness, we read that “very early” Jesus got up, found a solitary place, and prayed.  After the day He had, would anyone have blamed Him for sleeping in?

            Jesus understood that He was too busy not to pray!  Jesus was “all God,” but He was also “all man.”  The human side of Jesus experienced all the temptations that we do.  He was tempted to skip prayer time, His flesh did not want to get up early for prayer, but Jesus’ spirit understood the desperate need to connect with His Father in heaven.

            You and I face this temptation to get distracted from this foundational discipline of prayer!  The distraction might come in the form of busyness or it might come to us in the form of laziness.  Either way, if Jesus needed His solitary place, we need it much more!  Don’t let the enemy rob you of the power source of your life:  Prayer.

Father, the flesh is fighting me and the devil is distracting me, but I will choose to obey my spirit and pray.  Grant me strength in the battle.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.