During our corporate meetings, there is often action items that are assigned to us by the manager or team lead and follow up meetings scheduled to determine progress and completion of those action items. However, when it comes to our meeting with God during our quiet time and/or Bible study, we usually assign action items to God (the manager) and expect him to have them completed before we get to meet with him again. The Bible however gives us a protocol as to how our meeting with God should be and the outcome that should result from our meeting with God. This is recorded in Mark 1:35-39.

Jesus arose early in the morning (a great while before day) and went to a solitary part and there he met with God in prayer (Mark 1:35). When his disciples came and told him that “All men seek him” (Mark 1:36-37), he told them, “Lets go to the next towns: that I may preach there also” which speaks about the ministry (to go) and the mission (to preach) that comes from prayer (Mark 1:38). The following verse tells us that Jesus preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee and cast out devils (Mark 1:39). In other words, with the ministry and the mission, also came the manifestation of God’s power (to cast out devils).

Points to ponder:
Next time, we meet with God in prayer, let us not give him a “to-do” list, but instead, let us pray earnestly so that the result of the meeting with God would be ministry, mission and manifestation of God’s power to break down strongholds and bondages, in and through our life.

(Mark 1:35-39 (KJV)
35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.
37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.
38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.