In the quiet darkness of early morning, a man sits alone on a desolate hillside, deep in prayer. He recites Scripture, sings lines from the Psalms, offers praises, and pours out his heart to God. To a passerby, he might resemble a solitary monk or a contemplative recluse. Yet, not long before, this same man was surrounded by an entire city clamoring for his attention. Even now, the city stirs, eager for more of the miracles they witnessed the previous night. Soon, his companions will find him, urging him to meet the needs of the waiting crowds. But for now, he remains in prayer, steady in the eye of the storm.

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
—Mark 1:35

Despite overwhelming demands, unrelenting needs, and the immense weight of his mission, Jesus prayed.

The Lord’s Prayer Life

The Gospels give us only glimpses of Jesus’s life beyond his public ministry. We see him traveling, dining with others, and resting. But perhaps most strikingly, we see him praying.

Jesus prayed alone and with others (Matthew 14:23; John 17:1). He prayed in quiet solitude and amidst busy crowds (John 11:41–42; Matthew 14:13). His prayers were both part of his routine and spontaneous outpourings of joy, grief, and longing (Luke 5:16; 10:21–24; 23:34, 46). The multitudes witnessed his miracles, but his disciples saw the prayerful foundation beneath them (Luke 11:1).

Jesus’s prayer life didn’t come effortlessly. Despite a schedule so busy he sometimes skipped meals (Mark 3:20; 6:31), Jesus prioritized prayer—even at great personal cost. His example challenges us to do the same.


Prioritizing Prayer

Prioritizing prayer sounds noble, but it often requires difficult choices. True prioritization means setting aside other valuable activities to make room for communion with God. Jesus’s life offers us a profound example:

  1. Prayer Over Ministry
    When Jesus prayed early in the morning outside Capernaum, he could have been healing the sick, teaching the lost, or comforting the broken. Yet, he prayed first, even when the disciples told him, “Everyone is looking for you” (Mark 1:37).
  2. Prayer Over Sleep
    After long days of ministry, Jesus often chose prayer over rest. Mark 1:32–35 describes him rising before dawn to pray, despite ministering late into the night. On another occasion, he prayed all night before choosing his twelve apostles (Luke 6:12).
  3. Prayer Over Planning
    Before making critical decisions, Jesus turned to prayer. The all-night prayer session in Luke 6 preceded his selection of the apostles, emphasizing that divine guidance was more important than mere human strategy.
  4. Prayer Amid People
    Even when surrounded by others, Jesus often carved out moments for prayer. He prayed alone despite the disciples being nearby (Luke 9:18; 11:1). While he valued solitude, he also prayed in the presence of others when needed.

Resisting False Urgency

While Jesus valued ministry, sleep, planning, and relationships, he refused to let them overshadow prayer. He treated prayer as the most urgent priority, never allowing busyness to excuse prayerlessness.

This example challenges us:

  • Do we let busyness justify neglecting prayer?
  • Are we willing to wake earlier to pray?
  • Do we pause our plans for the “unproductive” act of prayer?
  • When our routines are disrupted, do we find creative ways to pray?

Modern life often imposes a false sense of urgency, whispering that there’s too much to do and too many people depending on us. Jesus faced similar pressures yet made prayer his first and unwavering priority.


What Jesus Knew

Jesus prayed because he knew both himself and his Father.

  1. Jesus Knew His Own Need
    As the perfect man, Jesus experienced the limitations of humanity: dependence, exhaustion, and even mortality. He prayed for wisdom, strength, joy, and fortitude. Do we recognize our own deep need for God’s help each day?
  2. Jesus Knew His Father
    Jesus knew his Father as the Creator of the universe, full of power, wisdom, and steadfast love. He also knew his Father as a God who hears and responds to prayer, a Father who delights in his children’s voices and provides for their needs (Matthew 7:7–11).

If we truly know this God, what could keep us from him?


The Power of Prayer

Throughout Scripture, prayer precedes wonders:

  • Loaves and fish fed thousands (Matthew 14:19).
  • Lazarus rose from the dead (John 11:41–42).
  • Jesus found strength to face the cross (Matthew 26:42).

God calls us to labor in this world, but not without prayer. Jesus, though burdened by a world of responsibilities, always prayed. Will we follow his example?

Picture of Guest Contributor

Guest Contributor