How Are You Praying Today?
By Lydia Rule
As I was reading my devotions this morning, I came across a chapter in the Bible that I had heard preached on many times. I started to read it not expecting to gain any new insights since I had heard the story before.
But I was wrong.
As I continued reading Mark chapter five’s account of Jesus healing a lunatic who lived among tombstones, two verses in particular caught my attention:
Mark 5:17-18 And they began to pray him (Jesus) to depart out of their coasts.
And when he (Jesus) was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil (the lunatic) prayed him that he might be with him.
Right after Jesus healed the town lunatic, the townspeople wanted Jesus to leave! The Bible says these people wanted Jesus to leave so badly, that they prayed or begged him to depart. They didn’t want Jesus staying around—if Jesus could transform a lunatic and heal him, then what could Jesus have done in the lives of the “normal” townspeople?? By praying that Jesus would leave them alone, the townspeople missed out on the greatest blessing of all.
And yet, in the very next verse, the man who used to be the town lunatic prays that he can stay with Jesus.
The townspeople’s definition of “prayer” was to push Jesus away. The lunatic’s definition of “prayer” was to be close to Jesus.
Sometimes we do the same thing today. We push Jesus away because his ways are not what we want to follow. But in the end, we look like the lunatic for rejecting Jesus’ will for our lives.
How are you praying today? Are you asking God to work in your life or to leave you alone to make your own choices? God gives us the choice to ask Him into our lives or to reject Him— what will you choose?
As I was reading my devotions this morning, I came across a chapter in the Bible that I had heard preached on many times. I started to read it not expecting to gain any new insights since I had heard the story before.
But I was wrong.
As I continued reading Mark chapter five’s account of Jesus healing a lunatic who lived among tombstones, two verses in particular caught my attention:
Mark 5:17-18 And they began to pray him (Jesus) to depart out of their coasts.
And when he (Jesus) was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil (the lunatic) prayed him that he might be with him.
Right after Jesus healed the town lunatic, the townspeople wanted Jesus to leave! The Bible says these people wanted Jesus to leave so badly, that they prayed or begged him to depart. They didn’t want Jesus staying around—if Jesus could transform a lunatic and heal him, then what could Jesus have done in the lives of the “normal” townspeople?? By praying that Jesus would leave them alone, the townspeople missed out on the greatest blessing of all.
And yet, in the very next verse, the man who used to be the town lunatic prays that he can stay with Jesus.
The townspeople’s definition of “prayer” was to push Jesus away. The lunatic’s definition of “prayer” was to be close to Jesus.
Sometimes we do the same thing today. We push Jesus away because his ways are not what we want to follow. But in the end, we look like the lunatic for rejecting Jesus’ will for our lives.
How are you praying today? Are you asking God to work in your life or to leave you alone to make your own choices? God gives us the choice to ask Him into our lives or to reject Him— what will you choose?
7 comments:
I have been guilty too of pushing God away sometimes, just wanting to do everything on my own. But when I think of how God has an eagle eye view of everything, including time itself, and how unworriesome it must seem to him since He knows how everything will turn out, it gets easier to let Him in control.
:)Ian(:
I know that feeling. Being a Junior in highschool gives me a lot of opportunities.
Cutting-edge devo.
Wow, this really spoke to me today, Lydia. Excellent work! :)
Debbie
Wow -- what an excellent post. I found your site today through a link from the Novelist's Cafe blog, and I absolutely love it. Your previous post about Daniel and the importance of sharing your prayer needs with others was fantastic.
I enjoyed this post as well. I wasn't familiar with this particular passage or story and, when I went to go look it up, found it quite interesting. You have excellent insight!
Thanks so much for the thought-provoking site. I'll be back!
Thanks everyone... :-) Glad you enjoyed it. :-)
Also, Ian and MismatchedSocksgirl (love the name!!), if you are interested in joining a writing group, check out the links on my blog --the Aroundthebloc newsletter is written by the Writer's Bloc group that Jamin and Debbie are a part of. :-) If you have questions about the group or writing, feel free to contact me at thewritersblocgroup@yahoo.com
Have a wonderful day!!!
Smile,
Lydia Rule
I wasn’t aware of some of the info that you wrote about so I want to just say thank you. scholarships
Good Afternoon
Awesome blog, great write up, thank you!
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