Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3 “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord”

A little thought on prayer from Mark 1.

After Jesus was baptized and after he spent 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus began his ministry. Mark tells how he calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow Him. He spends some time in Capernaum preaching and healing the sick, including Peter's mother-in-law. The people were astonished and amazed at his teachings and his healing of people from divers diseases. All in the city gathered at the door. He must have been so tired. Mark says in 1:35, "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."

Jesus sets the example for us. In the morning he goes into a solitary place and prays. He begins his day with prayer. Then, he has another busy day teaching and healing. If we want to be like Jesus, then we will begin our day with prayer. Did you pray this morning? Was your prayer sincere?

Are your prayers casual and unconscious, or are they commited and deliberate?

Elder Uchtdor said in his recent BYU address, "Communing with the Infinite, communing with the Divine, takes time. And it takes commitment. Casual prayers do not yield sublime answers."

Why do we sometimes begin our day without prayer or with a casual prayer? 

1. Wake up late

2. Busy

3. Tired

4. Don't feel worthy to pray

 About feeling worthy to pray, Elder Uchtdor said: 

"The scriptures teach, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

Even though you may pray imperfectly and make mistakes, God will not find fault with you. He will give generously.

Your mistakes have not disqualified you from heaven’s reach.

If God answered the prayers only of the perfectly obedient, He would have to shut down heaven’s entire prayer-answering department.

God reaches out to us even when we are struggling, when we are failing. In fact, we might say that He reaches out to us especially when we are struggling and failing."

How can you make your morning prayers a little better?