Matthew 14:23
“After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.”
Jesus finally gets away after a very long day. He had heard about John’s execution and took a boat to get away with the Father. His cousin had just been killed. As He comes on shore He see the multitude had followed Him. He had compassion on Him and healed their sick.
This lasted all day. The disciples advised Jesus to send the people home to eat. Jesus proceeded to feed the 5000. He then sent the 12 in a boat to the other side of the lake and He finally goes up the mountain to pray.
God gives Him a respite. The Lord empowered Him to make it through the day to get here. Wow! What a day this was.
God will never give us more that we can handle. I Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.” Yes, temptation is different from serving, but the same concept applies. He won’t give us more than we can bear. We might not feel that way. We might feel exhausted. God knows what He’s doing. Trust Him.
I get alone with God in the mornings. I’m so grateful as those times are rich. I heard about journaling when I was 24. It became steady about seven years later. That’s mostly what I do. I will ocassionally have extended times of prayer or bible reading, but mostly it’s writing about passages in the bible.
Being in God’s Word is like living the Parable of the Sower. The Word is sprinkled in my heart and it takes root and grows. My heart is like a healthy garden. What a privelige to have the life of God in me. Jesus knew the importance of this.
We go out in the world and love those He brings into our paths. Sometimes we feel the love, other times we don’t. We trust Him to fill us. We proceed lovingly.
2 Cor 9:10,11, “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.” Look at all the provision He supplies. He will give us whatever we need to serve.
Lord, thank You for the times of refreshing You provide. Jesus tried to get it at one time, but You had other ideas. You eventually gave it to Him. You will do the same with us. Thank You.