Mark 6:45 ¶
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. 47 And
when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the
land. 48 And he saw them toiling in
rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the
night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
49 But when they saw him walking upon
the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And
immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is
I; be not afraid. 51 And he went up unto
them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in
themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52
For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their
heart was hardened. 53 And when they had
passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
54 And when they were come out of the
ship, straightway they knew him, 55 And
ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds
those that were sick, where they heard he was. 56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages,
or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that
they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as
touched him were made whole.
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.
47
And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on
the land. 48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto
them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon
the sea, and would have passed by them. 49 But when they saw him walking upon
the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50 For they all saw
him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto
them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. 51 And he went up unto them
into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves
beyond measure, and wondered. 52 For they considered not the miracle of the
loaves: for their heart was hardened.
Call
out to God.
Christian
man or woman, boy or girl, did God hear your voice this morning when you woke
up?
Psalm
5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I
direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
Did
God hear your voice at noon and at night?
Psalm
55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he
shall hear my voice.
Do
you have a Hollywood Jesus who expects nothing from you but feigned, lisping
spirituality, and benign neglect? Or do you have a Saviour who speaks to you
through His words in His Book? Do you speak to God in prayer often?
1Thessalonians
5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Romans
12:12b… continuing instant in prayer;
Do
you listen to men who love Christ exhort you with things from His own words in
His Book?
By
the way, Jesus is not walking on ice or running like the lizard you’ve seen on
the Discovery Channel as some foolish skeptics have blasphemously suggested. He
is walking on water and stops and talks. Be of good cheer: it is I; be not
afraid. This is a violation of natural law, a miracle.
He’ll
respond to your cry with comfort. He will take away your fear. Call to Him. He
will answer you when you cry out to Him when you are toiling with rowing, when
the wind is contrary to you, when every breath is a struggle, your body and
mind ache, and your getting to the other side is in doubt. Think of those
words…it is I; be not afraid.
Have
you not considered what He has done for you? If you believe in Him He has saved
you in spite of yourself from an eternity of agony and suffering which is
common to all men. Your trouble here is but a moment in time. A hard heart is
one of unbelief, one that won’t listen, one that won’t change, and be receptive
to what Christ has for them. Maybe you’ve hardened your heart so you won’t
trust Him. Maybe your heart is so hard you won’t even believe Him at all.
Maybe, if you aren’t His yet, He’ll walk on by without your calling out to Him.
Romans
10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
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