“What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we shall reap in the harvest of action.” – Meister Eckhart

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Listen to my song “Turn Off the Noise” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

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Matthew 14:23

Jesus went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone.

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After Jesus fed the thousands, he sent his disciples off on a boat to their next destination of ministry.

But Jesus did not go yet.

First, he “went up on the mountain by himself to pray.”

Jesus withdrew from the fray – the active ministry where he had poured himself out – so he could refuel.

Alone with God on the mountain, he could be refilled.

This is the crucial and necessary part of, not only ministry, but life!

Unfortunately, this facet of prayer is so often neglected.

Many are not even aware of it.

In my upbringing, I was not taught about contemplative prayer but only rote prayer, the ones we recited.

Telling God what’s on your mind and heart is a good thing, but perhaps the most important thing is that we be silent and listen.

You may recall that when the disciples asked Jesus to instruct them on how to pray, he told them to go to their “inner room”, to “close the door”, and pray to God “in secret” (Matthew 6:6).

This is a way of practicing the method of living that Jesus demonstrated and preached about.

It’s the path of self-emptying or kenosis.

It’s the practice of losing your life to find your life (Matthew 10:39).

It’s letting go and letting God.

(Centering Prayer is a wonderful Christian practice of meditation that I highly recommend.)

It was from this place of letting go, that Jesus was refreshed and sent forth on the next step in his ministry.

Are you setting aside time for silent, self-emptying prayer?

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Listen to the song of the day “Turn Off the Noise” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!