Be Like Jesus Series - His Prayer Life!

          Mark 1: 35 (NIV)" Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." This prayer was done after a busy day of ministry, including healing many people and casting out demons late into the night. This shows that even for Jesus, power and purpose came from his private time spent with God i.e. power to do his ministry and his purpose because following this prayer, when his disciples found him and said everyone was looking for him, Jesus stated that he needed to go to the nearby villages to preach, which was the purpose for which he came. This action shows the importance of prayer in Jesus's life, a habit of seeking private devotion with God. It shows Jesus’s dependence on God and he was prioritizing his relationship with the Father.

         It is mentioned "as usual" (Luke 22:39-41 NIV) Jesus went to a solitary place or lonely places to pray ( Luke 5:16 NIV), away from chaos or the crowd or the disciples and alone with God.

          Jesus turned to 'his source', his father in prayer, when he was in need in the Garden of Gethsemane, for strength and guidance. The Bible accounts this event in all four gospels where the Son of God and Son of Man is in urgent need .(Mattthew 26:36, Mark 14:32, John 18:1)

       He prayed when he was in pain on the cross. He cried out in desperation and suffering (Matthew 27:46)

       He prayed the night before choosing his 12 disciples. Jesus spent the night praying to God (Luke 6:12)- i.e., before important decisions.

       Jesus prayed for others. In Matthew 19:13 (NIV), we read, “Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them.”  And In John 17:9 we see Jesus praying for his disciples and all believers (v20) .This emphasizes the need for intercessory prayer.

        Jesus not only prayed alone but also with others. Luke 9:28 (NIV) says, “[Jesus] took Peter, John and James with Him and went up onto a mountain to pray.”

         And also Acts 1:14 shows us the importance of Christians praying with one another: “They all joined together constantly in prayer …”

      So it was a common practice for Jesus, the SON OF GOD, to pray! Therefore, It is important that “Quiet time with God”  become a non-negotiable practice that a Christian must do daily like eating food or drinking water or just breathing. Just like our carnal body needs oxygen to survive, spending time with God should become vital for our spiritual growth. Quiet time with God is you being alone with God worshiping, praying and meditating on his word. Prayer is having conversations with God which can happen throughout  the day. 

          Consulting with God first and HE being our “go-to“ source and space in all matters of life is important and  Paul says in Ephesians 6:18(NIV) ,“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests….” 

         Pray all kinds of prayers, i.e. you can pray for healing of cancer and you can pray for the smallest thing you can think of, in the same breathe. Pray on all occasions but always remember him and allow him to be part of your life for that is what he desires. And also”…. always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." i.e., for others too!