A world of insight is hidden in four words in Matt.14:22: “He dismissed the crowd.”
This wasn’t just any crowd that Jesus dismissed. This was a multitude with a mission. They’d followed Jesus around the sea. They’d heard him teach. They’d seen him heal. And they were ready to make him king.
No one would turn down an opportunity to minister to thousands of people, right?
Jesus did. He dismissed the crowd! Why? Matthew 14:23 says, “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.”Jesus said “no” to the important in order to say “yes” to the vital! It wasn’t a selfish decision. It was a deliberate choice to honor priorities.
If Jesus thought it necessary to say no to the demands of the crowds in order to pray, don’t you think you and I should, too?
Especially now. Our country is only weeks away from the presidential election. Now, more than ever, is the time for God’s people to invoke His blessing. Join forces with the thousands of others who are doing just that. Join us for Forty Days of Prayer as we ask God to:
Unite us
Strengthen us
Appoint and anoint our next president.
Pray for the USA.
Max Lucado, Copyright 2012.
Please join us. Sign the pledge for 40 Days of Prayer leading up to the election. We also have a downloadable prayer card for you to use and share.
