Do you make and KEEP an appointment with God each day? Mark 1-2

Mark 1:35 (NASBStr)

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

Have you ever had an early appointment with someone and had to get up early?  Maybe it is a client, maybe a good friend.   Would you ever think of canceling that person just to get some more sleep, or do some other activity ... since you made an appointment to meet with them?   Most of us would be respectful enough to keep any appointment we had, even early in the morning.   In the above passage we see that Jesus had an early appointment to talk with His Father.   Jesus was the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity.   He saw a need or a desire (or both) to rise early to talk to God and to gather strength, wisdom and direction for His earthly ministry from His Father.  If Jesus was so compelled to do this, why not us?   Have you ever thought of making an appointment with God, early in the morning, to talk to Him and to gather strength, wisdom and direction for the day?   Many years ago I made a covenant with God to meet with Him every morning to have Him talk to me via His Word.   In January of each year I select a Bible reading program for the day and make a covenant with God that I will be there to listen to Him and get instructions, strength, insight and conviction for that day.    In January of this year I told God I would be at our meeting and He could talk to me via Mark 1-2, today's passage.  I had no idea on this date what I would need from God.   Apparently, what I needed was a reminder that Jesus, Himself, set an appointment with the Father.   After having spent this time together on this day, Jesus informs His disciples they are going to leave the town they are in and go to other towns. See the following:

Mark 1:38 (NASBStr)

He *said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.”

In His fellowship with the Father, the Son expanded His ministry.   Our time alone with God in the morning is not about us going to God in prayer to tell Him what we want.   Our time in the morning in prayer and the Word is for God to remind us of what He wants.   Seek God each morning.  Keep the appointment.   Ask Him what He wants you to do and listen to Him via His Word.