I am preaching on Mark 1:35-45 and the first part of this passage features Jesus withdrawing in the early morning to a desolate place in the wilderness for needed communion with the Father and Spirit. It is needed because of the incessant demands on his time (as evidenced by the disciple’s later statement – “Everybody is looking for you.”). I’ve had a hard time getting past the statement, “Everybody is looking for you.” It’s almost as if they’re saying, “C’mon Jesus, enough of this praying, you’ve got important work to do.” I have known that mindset for quite some time so it’s no wonder that prayer doesn’t always seem important. In my mind, it doesn’t seem to be advancing the kingdom in other people’s lives. What escapes me, is that prayer is advancing the kingdom in my own life. It makes me think of Oswald Chamber’s statement on prayer that “prayer doesn’t prepare you for a great work, it is the great work.”

What I hear in their statement is an appeal to identity and significance. “Jesus, your identity and significance is to be found in what you are doing, namely as a preacher and a healer, and we’re burning daylight.” I often feel that way and “hear voices” telling me the same thing. They convince me that I don’t have time for prayer as there is too much to do. What I do becomes who I am.

But the gospel frees me (and you) from this kind of thinking. It reorients our thinking so that we see that our identity is an adopted and cherished son of God (Rom. 8:14-17, Gal. 4:5-7) and our ministry role is that of pastor, missionary, Sunday School teacher, elder, etc.

If I am living in light of who I am in Christ and my identity is found in him and not my ministry role, then my prayer life, in principle, will be relaxed, unhurried and vibrant. But if I am living as though my true identity and significance is found in my ministry role, then my prayer life, in principle, will be harried, hurried and stale. I will feel like I don’t have time to pray because I’ve got to do the things that give me worth and identity.

So here’s to relaxed, unhurried and vibrant times of prayer where I am reminded of who I am in Christ and am strengthened for the roles he has called me to.

Happy New Year!