Tues., 2/11/14 Devotion (Mk. 14:39)

Today's encouragement comes from Mark 14:39, where we read these words:

"Again He [Jesus] went away and prayed, and spoke the same words."

It is encouraging to behold that our Savior Himself--in a time of great need and anguish--prayed, and "spoke the same words.” Very often, in our cases, we do not know how to pray as we ought, (as per Rom. 8:26)--and we tend to say the same things over and over. What matters is that we desire to pour our hearts out to God our Father in prayer. Our Lord knows how to "interpret” our random efforts through the atonement Jesus has provided for His churchmen.

Therefore, let us not be discouraged if our prayer life is not all that we want it to be. Instead, let us groan out some heartfelt utterings--and know that God will be pleased with them (in Christ).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Love was the chain that fastened [Jesus] to the cross." --Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]