Mark 1.35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
The prayer life of Jesus is recorded repeatedly in the Gospels. Here, after a very busy day of ministry, Jesus rises up a great while before sunrise and spends time in prayer. That teaches us that we can receive strength and refreshment for each days tasks when we spend time talking to Abba. As Son of Man, we read in some places where Jesus was physically weary and in need of rest. But here, we learn that His spiritual strength is renewed by prayer, not sleep.
It was in and through prayer that Jesus would receive direction and power from The Father to minister to others. It was in and through times of prayer that Jesus would have sweet fellowship with The Father. The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus, in the days of his flesh, offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that He feared. Oh how challenging and convicting is the prayer life of my Lord! How Jesus sensed that deep need to go before His Father and lay His heart bare. In one sense, the prayer life of The Holy Sinless Son of God is both a mystery and encouragement to me. When Jesus calls us unto Himself, His call is a simple, follow Me. Thus, I believe that it is the will of God for every single one of His children to be men and women of prayer. After The Lord Jesus cleansed the temple of the tragic commercialization and bizarre like atmosphere of the religious frauds of the day. Jesus then declared the proper use of the temple with the words, My house shall be called the house of prayer. Not all of God’s children are called to teach the Bible. Not all are called to lead a congregation in worship. But know this beloved. We are all, by virtue of Christ’s perfect and holy atoning sacrifice, given the privilege and honor of prayer and fellowship with The Father.
Our Father Who art in heaven. Those words are not a “formula” of prayer. They are the very essence of prayer. And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Don’t give in and don’t give up praying dear ones. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. Be thankful in prayer. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. The end is near. Be sober and stay alert by prayer. Start your day and spend your day like Jesus did…..in prayer and communion with Abba.
