Prayer Discovers (Mark 1:35)
Dear Members of the Our Savior Lutheran Church Email Prayer Chain,

Prayer Discovers

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. –Mark 1:35

It was common knowledge among the disciples that they would find Jesus praying during the early morning hours. When they needed Him they knew to go to the place of prayer. When Judas betrayed Jesus, he led his cohorts to Jesus’ place of prayer.

Every time the Lord Jesus faced an important decision, He prayed. When He was being tempted to do things by the world’s methods instead of the Father’s, He prayed (Matthew 4). When it was time to choose His disciples, He prayed the entire night (Luke 6:12). If the Son of God required a night of prayer in order to determine the Father’s mind, how long might it take us in prayer to clearly determine our Father’s will?

Because Jesus was so often surrounded by crowds, He knew He must find a quiet place so He could clearly hear His Father’s voice. Jesus had many people seeking to influence the direction of His life. His disciples wanted Him to go where the crowds were (Mark 1:37). The crowds wanted to crown Him king (John 6:15). Satan tempted Him to make compromises in order to draw a following (Matthew 4:3, 6, 9). Jesus knew that His mission was not to attract a crowd but to remain faithful to His Father’s will.

Prayer set the agenda for Jesus’ ministry (Luke 6:12). Prayer preceded the miracles He performed (John 11:42-43), and prayer brought Him encouragement at critical moments (Luke 9:28-31. Prayer enabled Him to go to the cross (Luke 22:41-42), and prayer kept Him there despite excruciating pain (Luke 23:46)

Follow the Savior’s example, and let you time alone with God, in prayer, set the agenda for your life.

REFLECTION

What do you do when you need to get away and be with God?
When was the last time you sought to be along with God? What did you and God talk about?

PRAYER REQUESTS -- Week of May 25, 2008

FOR THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM CANCER OR CHRONIC ILLNESS

Dave McCutcheon         [Friend of Luther Oberhaus] brain cancer has returned and is not responding to treatment, prognosis poor.  Please keep is family, wife Rachel; Paul and Carole, his parents, and his sister Bekah.  

FOR COMFORT

Bruce and Tricia Krueger and family for the loss of their unborn child at 5 ½ months.  
For the family of Marilyn Brown, aunt to Cindy Oberhaus, was called home last week and had received a Christian burial.

FOR THOSE CELEBRATING

Maurico Blanco, school custodian, he and his wife were blessed with a son, Johans, on Thursday, all in the family are doing well.
Allison Koch and Kevin Mathes for their up coming marriage on Saturday, May 31, in Macon, Georgia

FOR THOSE SERVING IN THE MILITARY

Today as we recognize Armed Forces Sunday, we prayer for the soldiers and chaplains who face the daily dangers as they provide protect for the oppressed.  May God continue to protect all who serve and grant them comfort as they deal with loneliness and separation from family and friends. May they trust in Your faithfulness to sustain themselves and the loved ones at home.

Mark Ratterman, Zachary Holland, Joshua Burkett, Roy Oberhaus, Michael Costello, Don Wheeler, Lori Alix, James Marshburn, Tony Crespo, Donnie Tyler, Jonathan and Julian Heinze, Matthew Kuecker, Zachary Holland, Michael Alexander

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.-- 2 Peter 1:2-8

In Christ,
Paul E. Nickel
Director of Christian Education
Our Savior Lutheran Church
 

Copyright 2006-2011, Our Savior Lutheran Church