Thursday, September 9, 2010

Isolated Intimacy- The Prayer Life Of Jesus

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God —Luke 6:12

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed —Mark 1:35

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there —Matthew 14:22-

At the end of 2009 I decided to start a study of Jesus’ prayer life. I have now come to the conclusion that there is a lot to learn from just this one part of his life, Jesus was a man of prayer defiantly. I was talking to a person the other day we where discussing how people get an assumption around Christmas time that Jesus always knew he was the son of God. Which in fact he had to find him self in the word of God just as we do. His prayer life was so developed that he knew when it was time to go and pray.

So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed —Luke 5:15-16

It says he “Often” went to pray in the wilderness/isolation. Have you ever felt the urge that you need to pray I’m talking an intense urge or have you ever been woken up in the middle of the night and known you needed to pray something out? Jesus’ time in isolation with the Father also involved times of earnest prayer In Luke 3:21-22 it says “And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." He found him self out of prayer, What if Jesus did not yield and pray at that very time I’m sure he had a strong urge to but what if he didn’t. At that very time he broke though something he found him self, later in the next chapter

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

He discovered where he was in the Word this all was divine. I believe that the Word clearly speaks that Jesus had a strong prayer life, I marvel at the thought of it. Think of the Isolated Intimacy he spent with God our father. One on one & face to face! What they talked about and what God showed him, I want my intimacy in my prayer life to be strong like Jesus’ we all should. This year I’m striving to dig deeper in my prayer life I want the same Isolated Intimacy Jesus had. You hear it said often you can only go as far as your prayer life so take a note from Jesus and Pray I know I am. Is there a big decision you or I have to make? Is there a problem for which we need an answer or direction? Perhaps an extended period of solitude with the Father will provide the needed resolution. We should make time to inquire of God and spend time with Him alone. He will communicate with us just listen!

-Shellby Celeste


Acknowledge God in discovering your path.

My Grandmother wrote this in a email to me the other day, I really enjoyed it so I thought I would post it. I'm sure you will enjoy it to. I'm so blessed to have such awesome Godly grandparents on both sides of the family who love me and push me closer to a deeper relationship with God. Love y'all, Enjoy.

I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Until now, a high school student's life has kind of been dictated to you. In other words, you did things because you were required or told do them. For instance, it was required that that you spend six to eight hours of your day at school. However, the very next second after you receive your diploma, we are free to choose what we spend the remaining days of our lives doing. We may choose to spend the next few years in college or to pursue a singing or acting career. Others may choose to start working immediately. Some may be leaving home for the first time to live apart from your parents and family.

So now that YOU have and many others have graduated. What's next? This may not be an easy question to answer, but the choice ultimately is yours.
To come to the best answer when making a decision, however, we must consider this one simple truth: GOD HAS A PLAN FOR MY LIFE.

In Jeremiah 1:5, God explains to Jeremiah that before He came out of his mother's womb, he was called and ordained by God to be a prophet to the nations. The same is true for you. Each of us are called by God to do "something" that we would find fulfilling and enjoyable. This "something"
was determined before we were born.

Ephesians 2:10 in the amplified Bible states that we were born again to do good works which God planned beforehand and to take paths which He prepared ahead of time. The truth of the matter is we were put on this earth to do something and since we are born again, we were put here to do something for God. You are His Ambassador representing the Kingdom of God. You are His voice here in this earth declaring the goodness of God, for it is the goodness of God that cause all men to repent.

As you acknowledge God in discovering your path, He will be faithful to reveal to each of us what He has called and equipped us to be. Each day that we live, believing God to bring you closer to your destiny in Him. Just remember, don't worry, God is faithful to show us His will for our lives- He will direct our path.
Me and my Grandmother Pat Sanders "Gaga"