TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. (Mark 6:30 NKJV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• I was reading in the book of Mark on Saturday last weekend, and this verse really spoke to me in a new way: “Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught” (Mark 6:30).
Every other time I’ve read this verse, my imagination has viewed the scene like a conference room meeting. Everyone reconvened from the big project and gave the boss status updates.
But this wasn’t the boss. This was THE Boss.
Jesus. Who, as God in human form, is omniscient. Who already knew everything the disciples had done and taught while they were traveling. And yet, He invited the disciples to give their progress reports to Him.
And He listened.
I was so convicted as I read this. I wrote this note in my Bible: “Shouldn’t prayer be the same? Jesus, as God already knew, but He invited them to share and tell Him. Why do I think He won’t do the same for me?”
This isn’t a new idea, but I have a new perspective. Jesus doesn’t want me to pray because He needs to be informed. He wants me to pray, so I will share and communicate with Him.
Nowhere in this passage with the disciples do we read that Jesus was bored or checking His watch or scrolling through His iPhone’s Facebook app while nodding along. He invited the disciples to share, and then, He listened.
What an incredible gift. And a shaming one. Too often, I’ve rushed through reading the Bible and prayer, eager to get to the next thing while my Savior and Redeemer is leaning in, attentive, and ready to capture every word I say, even though He already knows it. Shouldn’t I do the same for Him?
This verse isn’t the one that usually captures a reader’s attention, but there is so much hope, love, and truth demonstrated in this verse. And let’s read the next one…. “And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31a).
And again, I’m humbly reminded of this extraordinary truth. My responsibility in this relationship with Christ is to talk to Him, tell Him what I’ve faced and what I’m facing, and then rest. He knows. He listens. And He is in control.
What an incredible God we serve!
Today, as you pray, thank Jesus for His invitation to talk to Him. Thank Him that He listens. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be purposeful and deliberate in your prayer time. Ask Him to remind you that though every thought, word, deed you’ve done or will do is already known — He still wants you to talk to Him about it.
SHARING ••• My Grace-Full Life is written by Denise Heidel. You are welcome to share anything I write, but please credit my writing and graphics accordingly. Visit www.MyGraceFullLife.com to read past blogs. Subscribe through my website to have My Grace-Full Life delivered to your email. You can unsubscribe at any time. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the NKJV translation.
