Fear, Exhaustion, Prayer, Fasting - Being Human

Hebrews 5:7, 8

Thinking about prayer and fasting a specific instance stands out to me. 1 Corinthians 7 speaks of a mutual break agreed upon in marriage. One of the greatest source of temporary satisfaction in marriage is when the husband and wife come together physically as one. No wonder Soloman saw it as something very difficult to grasp, the way of a man with a maid. (Proverbs 30). But Paul says the only reason given for abstaining is for the reason of prayer and fasting. And don't make it to long that you don't cause problems in your marriage. Prayer and fasting? But isn't that a spiritual activity. In marriage the physical relationship is also a very valid spiritual activity. So balancing out spiritual activities in all areas of marriage is an active intention.

But thinking of prayer and fasting, we must realize that even when Jesus went to the desert for forty days it only says He fasted. Though many say that Jesus went into the desert to fast and pray nothing is ever said about prayer. Sometimes there are some actions attributed to even Jesus that are only assumed.

Mark is the first to mention of Jesus praying (Mark 1:35, 36). Mind you this is after the wedding in Cana, first cleansing of the temple, leaving Judea for Galilee, healing the son of the certain nobleman, healing the demoniac on the Sabbath Day, and healing Peter's mother-in-law. We probably ask, didn't He need to seek His Father in prayer before now?

Next mention of Jesus praying (Luke 6:12) is after healing lepers, paralytics, calling Levi , heaing all sorts of people, multitudes. But it is before He selects His specific disciples to send out.

It is then in the sermon on the mount that Jesus even teaches about prayer (Matthew 6). It might seem reasonable to believe in all this time that Jesus did spend time in prayer for all the works that He had done. According to Luke 1 Luke did write down according to what Jesus had begun to do and teach ( and his teaching was in Matthew 7:7-12). What is of further interest is that when asked by John's disciples if He was the Christ or should they expect another. Jesus names that the blind received their sight, lame walk, lepers cleansed, the deaf hear, and the poor have good tidings preached to them. In all of what He said what you do not read is "prayers are answered".

But lest we miss it then right in the middle of upbraiding cities of people for their unbelief (Matthew 11:20-30) Jesus offers a prayer of thanksgiving that things were hidden from the wise and understanding, and made open to the children. These are the first recorded words of Jesus praying. These words are so different from most of our prayers. What is it we pray for? Why? How does our prayers being answer affect the advance of God's kingdom?

We rarely stop to think of all the things we think Jesus should have prayed for, wisdom and strength to face the first half of His ministry. Then we might ask, why aren't we told more often that He prayed? Being human neans there are days we are exhausted, others in which we experience fear. Though praying and fasting are encouraged and we have the example of how we implement that in the lives of a married couple, there are certainly ways we can follow that one practical example and incorporate prayer and fasting in other areas of life. Like Jesus taught about prayer, go into your separate prayer place. People shouldn't necessarily know when you are praying. When you fast wash your face. Spruce up your looks so know one needs to know you are fasting. With Jesus incorporating what He taught in His life even the disciples keeping record may not have notice or found it necessary to write it down.

I must continue this exploration of Jesus example of prayer and fasting next time.