Only when I pray is a short series of thought-provoking reflections based loosely around the theme of prayer as found in Luke 11:1-13.

Today’s reading is from Mark 3:1-5

While in Capernaum Jesus went over to the synagogue again, and noticed a man there with a deformed hand. Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. Would he heal the man’s hand? If he did, they planned to arrest him! Jesus asked the man to come and stand in front of the congregation. Then turning to his enemies, he asked, ”Is it all right to do kind deeds on Sabbath days? Or is this a day for doing harm? Is it a day to save lives or to destroy them?” But they wouldn’t answer him. Looking around at them angrily, for he was deeply disturbed by their indifference to human need, he said to the man, ”Reach out your hand.” He did, and instantly his hand was healed! Living Bible

And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, “Stand forth.” And he saith unto them, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?” But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, “Stretch forth thine hand.” And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. KJV

So, how does this scripture passage tie in with Luke 11:1-13 as the theme of these reflections? The short answer is, it does not! At least not directly.

But let me explain the link that brings me here.

This miracle of Jesus was carried out on the Sabbath. Perhaps like me you may have heard the phrase, the better the day the better the deed; and I have heard this used as an excuse to do something on the Sabbath that would have been frowned upon at one time by our parents. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, is a command that has never been amended in scripture as far as I know. This Sabbath day law is precisely why Jesus’ enemies were watching and waiting for Him to do something on the Sabbath that contravened it.

Interesting that this happened as Jesus was at (or in) the synagogue (church). The point is, Jesus was on His way to prayer with others in a meeting place of the Jewish faith. We know, too, that He regularly went somewhere alone to pray. Why was this necessary for Jesus? He was, after all, God with skin on to coin a phrase. God Incarnate. God with us.

We must not forget that Jesus was fully God and fully man. He was human (not a superhuman). He needed to sleep and eat, rest and refuel, relate and communicate with those around Him and deal compassionately with the many broken people he met in the circumstances He faced. While His divine power was limitless His human state was not.

His divine power could not be delivered, His message could not be conveyed, His miracles could not be enacted were His physical human condition so tired that His physical body could not function. Like any other human “battery” Jesus needed to remain fully charged in order to accomplish the task required of it. Restful rejuvenation coupled with regular solitary prayer seems to have been a means by which this charge was maintained.

Today’s song is called, When Jesus prayed. Have a listen to it now.

The song refers to many of the wonderful things that happened when Jesus prayed. Amazing truths were unfolded. Awesome healing rendered. Gentle forgiveness spoken. Messages of hope conveyed. Spirits lifted. Heaven’s treasures revealed. Mercy shown. Faith strengthened. Beautiful stories told that pointed the way to heaven.

And, of course, Jesus prayed, showing us how we should keep in touch with our heavenly Father, through Him.

Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples spoke to him. “Lord,” he said, “teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” NIRV

I wouldn’t be surprised to discover that the disciple/s in Luke 11:1 could see that the divine power which underpinned Jesus’ teachings, miracles and mission could only be tapped-into via prayer. That is, perhaps, why the disciple/s asked Jesus to teach them to (how to) pray! They wanted more of what they saw! And they got it! Mark 16:20 confirms it thus:

And the disciples went everywhere preaching, and the Lord was with them and confirmed what they said by the miracles that followed their messages. Living Bible

They did not achieve this with depleted charge in their batteries!

Today, what is it that you need or desire more of in your walk with the Lord?

In your own prayer time today, ask the Lord to reveal to you something He wants you to accomplish that can only be accomplished in the condition that He requires you - fully charged!