Surrender: A devotional on desperation, humility, and giving over

  Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone — Matthew 14:22-23 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, Your cousin John had been beheaded. News of his horrific death reached you and when it did, you "withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place" (vs. 13). But the crowds found you and as your boat landed, you immediately began ministering to them. When evening approached, the disciples came encouraging you to send them away to get food. In short, the miraculous feeding of 5000 came next. And then finally, after putting the disciples into a boat and sending them to the other side of the lake, you were able to get alone to pray, to finally grieve, and to be with the Father. You must have been exhausted. Rarely do the needs of the flock take a backseat to our own grief and need...

 "Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone," — Matthew 14:22-23 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, After feeding the 5,000, you sent the disciples across the Sea of Galilee. You dismissed the crowd. And then, you got away to be alone, to pray in solitude. After a huge moment of miraculous ministry, you left that mountain peak experience with thousands for a mountainside experience alone. This is my reminder to get away with you, alone, in the solitude after those significant moments of ministry and mountain peak experiences. Alone with you is where I am refreshed and replenished. On that mountainside is where I encounter God's presence. There on that mountainside is where I can pray without interruption, without distraction, without obstruction. Lord, you know how m...