Luke 6:19 – And the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. (NIV)

No matter where He went, people crowded around Jesus. He was constantly mobbed with all sorts of people who were suffering from a multitude of diseases, illnesses, and sicknesses. His fame as a healer had spread around the Galilean region, so He was in great demand by people who needed His help the most. As He walked from town to town, the locals clamoured around Him, begging Him for a miracle for themselves, their loved ones, and their friends. They even clawed at Him, believing that if they could just touch Him, they would be instantly healed.

Sometimes, I wonder if Jesus felt overwhelmed by all of this attention. He probably did, because we are also told from Scripture that He sought isolated places to be in prayer with God. Popularity enabled Him to speak and preach to the masses, but it also had its negative side — that of being too much in demand, never meeting enough needs, and hardly getting any peace to Himself.

Today, we can approach Jesus through prayer, allowing His Spirit to touch our weary and sick souls. We don't have to wait until He passes by or fight past crowds of other people. We can speak directly to Him and He will hear our pleas and prayers. In the midst of our too-busy and burdened lives, we can still find consolation and peace, comfort and strength in Christ. All that we need to do is find a quiet place where we can focus on Jesus, let His presence touch our spirits, and allow His power to refresh our lives.

Questions for personal reflection: When was the last time I found a quiet place to pray to Jesus? When will I make time for that to reoccur?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we all need You constantly. We all have worries and concerns, issues and troubles that frequently overwhelm, overtire, and overburden us. Enable us to seek You prayerfully in a quiet place where we can talk to You openly, freely, and securely. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

John Stuart <traqair@aol.com>
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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