"The Lenten Pilgrimage" - Day 18

Tuesday, March 9th

     “In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.”

                                                                                                                                    Mark 1:35

     There is no authentic spiritual pilgrimage without prayer.  Prayer opens our hearts to God, convicts us of the remnant of sin that remains in our hearts and equips us for the journey toward Christ-likeness.

     We look to Jesus as our guide, directing us toward lives lived in faithful and constant communion with the Father.  The gospels bear witness to his commitment to prayer.   Luke even records that Jesus withdrew from the crowds to pray. (Luke 5:15-16) 

     The Season of Lent provides a helpful framework to center our lives around prayer.  These are days to pursue deeper communion with God, days to hunger and thirst after holiness and righteousness, a time to commit ourselves more fully to the spiritual discipline of prayer.

     Today I offer a simple invitation.  Seek out a deserted place, and pray. 

Prayer

     Lord Jesus you have taught us to pray, showing us how an authentic life of prayer looks.        

     We confess that the prayer life we desire is often less than we practice.  We are easily 

     distracted and have an appetite for instant gratification.  Yet we long, we hunger, we yearn 

     for deep communion with the Triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Help us to look 

     deeply at your rhythm of prayer revealed in the Gospels.  Grant us wisdom to more closely 

     mirror your passion for, and practice of prayer.  In your name we pray.  Amen.