By Rev. Aidan Moon
Peace and Purpose in Prayer
You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.
“And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time. Simon and his companions eagerly searched for Him; and they found Him and said to Him, ‘Everyone is looking for You.’ He said to them, ‘Let’s go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may also preach there; for this is why I came.’ And He went into their synagogues preaching throughout Galilee, and casting out the demons.”
Mark 1:35-39, New American Standard Bible
It is dark. It is cold. You are tired. And yet, you need something more than warmth and comfort and another hour of sleep. You need a peace and purpose that will only come through prayer.
I’m talking to myself here. It is easy for us to get caught between attempts to “be better” by our own strength, and ambivalent laziness on the other. Either ditch is a recipe for disaster. Our life of faith can easily turn into the same kind of pattern as the rest of our life: a series of life hacks or a mindless slide into passivity. The internet is full of tips for a better morning routine, the right habits to get you in shape, etc, etc, etc. We can obsess with “self-optimization.”
But Jesus models a different kind of life. Jesus is far from lazy. He isn’t ambivalent toward life. He is disciplined. And yet, he is not focused on “self-optimization.” Jesus’ life is a life focused outward – in prayer and mission. He is “unbusy” – receptive to God and to others. He is easily interrupted. His mission is to preach, to heal, to cast out demons. But he also is up before the dawn so that the mission starts from the peace of time with God in secluded places.
You are invited to a different kind of “resolution” this year. Instead of self-optimizing, perhaps simply slow down enough to receive the peace and purpose that comes from a life with Jesus. Jesus is inviting you. The message is not so much “be like Jesus” as it is “be with Jesus.” His life is yours already, Child of God. Don’t miss it. Embrace the peace and purpose he gives.
Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
