FEBRUARY 1, 2025
Topic: “Building Intimacy in Prayer: Jesus’ Model”
Text: Matthew 14:15-23
Memory Verse: “Matthew 14:23 After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain to pray; when it was evening, He was there alone.
Our God is a relational God who created us for Himself and is longing for an intimate relationship with us. That is why right from the Garden of Eden, God has chosen to spend time with the human beings He created in His image. (Gen.3:8)
When man sinned and it became necessary for God to become incarnate, taking on the form of man to redeem mankind (Phil.2:1-10), Jesus came and modelled for us the kind of intimacy which mankind should have with his creator. That is why in our text for today, Jesus showed us how He prioritized His time alone with the Father.
Look at the first thing He did, which was to send the crowds away. Today, we need to disengage from anything that will distract us from having intimate time with God. Jesus cut off anything that would interfere with His intimacy with God. Today, our phones, social media, and friends are all examples of things we need to disconnect from, for us to connect with God. Jesus has modelled to us that intimacy with God cannot be cultivated in the public, it must be private, alone with God. As you step out today, please remember that “You will rule in public when you travail in private.”
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank you for showing us the example of how to prioritise intimacy with the Father. Help us to have the courage to send the crowds away, so we can enjoy a lifelong intimacy with you. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.