Mark 6:45-46 commentary: get alone and pray

45 ¶ And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

Get alone and pray by following Jesus’ example. Do you have a regular time of prayer when you are not around other people? It is good to pray with your spouse every day on your knees. It is good to pray with your children every day in private, family devotions where yours and their most heartfelt praise, thanksgiving, and requests are brought before God. But, it is also good to come apart some place alone and pray. Prayer strengthens and encourages you because the One to whom you pray responds to your reliance on Him.

For those people who like to be organized it helps to think of the acronym, ACTS. A is for adoration, praying with all praise and glorifying the One to whom you pray. C is for confession, confessing your sins which if you’re honest are many. T is for Thanksgiving, thanking a beneficent, loving God for the mercy and watchcare He bestows on you every day. Finally, S is for supplications, coming to God with every need and want, no matter how small you may think they are, and praying expressly for others; for Christians to draw closer to God and for those not born again to be drawn to receive Christ as their Saviour.

Do yourself and your relationship with Christ a favor and come apart to pray. Prayer is talking directly to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Prayer is not talking to yourself and prayer doesn’t change things. It’s the One to whom you pray that changes things. And of all the problems you face and the circumstances that might weigh you down the most important thing He can do is to change YOU.

You don’t need a showy, public prayer. You don’t need to try to preach a sermon to someone else when you are speaking to God. You need to genuinely praise Him, confess your sins to Him, thank Him, and ask Him for the needs and desires of your heart. And pray when you read the Bible. Pray fervently and without ceasing that God will give you light.