Solitude with Purpose

Ready:

"Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.” - Mark 1:35 NLT

Set: 

Many scholars believe Jesus woke up around 4:00 a.m. to pray after the busiest day recorded in His life. His day was filled with selecting disciples, driving out demons, teaching and performing miracles, including healing Peter’s mother-in-law.

As the sun set, the whole town gathered at Peter’s mother-in-law’s house, where those who were sick and demon-possessed were brought to Jesus. Jesus had to be exhausted! He had every reason to sleep in that morning. His weekly calendar was extremely busy, and He was scheduled to travel to the nearby villages to preach in their synagogues, drive out demons and perform additional miracles. 

Jesus made it a priority to commune with His Father in a solitary place. Prayer was a priority for the Savior of the World. He had a consistent connection with the Father through the spiritual discipline of prayer. His prayer time with the Father was intentional and uninterrupted. But being human, this required effort for Jesus to wake up early in the morning before anyone else.

He found a place that was so secluded that the disciples had to really search to find Him. Many times, Jesus prayed for Himself, for His disciples, and for all who would believe in Him during His private prayer time with the Father. Jesus models for us what it means to pray for ourselves, our teammates, coaches and athletes (domestically and internationally). We have the privilege of partnering with God to pray for the Kingdom to expand across the world.  During your uninterrupted times of prayer, pray that God will send laborers into the world for a ripe harvest. Pray that God would transform the hearts of coaches and athletes across the globe. And lastly, pray that God will give you a heart for the nations.

Go:  

• In what ways would your personal walk with the Lord change if you applied this truth in your life?     
• It took effort for Jesus to get up early and walk to a secluded place to pray. How much effort are you willing to put into having communion with our Savior and spending time in prayer?     
• When was the last time you prayed with an international teammate? How was their prayer request(s) compared to yours?  Similarities?  Differences? Have you followed up with them to see how God answered their prayers? 

Workout:

Luke 9:18; Matthew 14:23; Luke 6:12; Mark 6:46; Luke 6:12; Matthew 26:39-44

Overtime:

“Father, forgive me when I fail to make prayer a priority in my life and ministry. Increase my desire and passion for intimacy with You. Your Word declares that we should go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything You have commanded us. And You will be with us to the very end. Remind us of this precious promise as we seek to fulfill our vision of seeing the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.”

Eric Anderson

As the Texas International Advancement Coordinator, Eric Anderson has the unique privilege of mobilizing people and resources in Texas connecting them to people and projects in Latin America North through three initiatives: PRAY, GIVE, GO. For the past 16 years, Eric has served on staff in the city of Houston in various roles and capacities. Eric played football at Sam Houston State University. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the College of Biblical Studies in Leadership Science and Biblical Studies. He also has an Associate’s Degree from Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. Currently, Eric is in the Master’s Program at Dallas Theological Seminary. Eric is married to his lovely wife, Sheryl Anderson. The Anderson’s have two beautiful daughters: Sakinah Cooper and Erin Anderson.