Mari Ikeda

❖ Video

❖ Audio

The Importance of Praying (Mark 1:35-39)

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else―to the nearby villages―so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

A. Praying

1. We can’t focus on praying

2. It is important to face God by yourself

B. Praying and action

1. Praying makes us go outward

2. Mother Teresa’s teaching

Summary

Let us value our alone time with God, to face God by yourself quietly. Even Jesus, the Son of God, went out to pray by Himself. Through our alone time with God, we can have a better understanding of God’s love toward ourselves and the world around us. Prayer broadens our view. Let us always set a time to pray, so that we can see the world (both ourselves and others) from God’s perspective rather than our own narrow view, and that we can bring more of God’s love to this world.

For Discussion

1) What does it mean to pray?
2) Why can’t we do good works without praying?