Jesus prayed early in the morning, in the evening, and even through the night. Many of us follow this pattern with prayers soon after we open our eyes in the morning and prayers again before we close our eyes at night (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). Just as the Psalmist wrote that he would declare God's lovingkindness in the morning, and His faithfulness every night (Psalm 92:1-2) Jesus, desiring to honour His Father, would have been thankful to Him, given praise to Him, and given Him the glory due His name.
Some of us may have even been through times of great concern and upheaval in which we have either stayed up to pray through the night or prayed every time we woke from our troubled sleep. Just as Jesus would have experienced, we too, can find great comfort and strength in casting our cares on God (1 Peter 5:7) and pleading with Him for His mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:16, Luke 18:1-7).
Jesus prayed before, after, and sometimes during big events in His life. Jesus prayed at His baptism (Luke 3:21), after healing people all evening (Mark 1:35), before walking on the water (Matthew 14:23, Mark 6:46, John 6:15), before choosing the twelve apostles , at the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-29), 3x in the Garden of Gethsemane before He was tried and crucified (Matthew 26:36-46), and 3x while on the cross (Luke 23:34, Matthew 27:46, Luke 23:46).
We need to teach ourselves to go to God in prayer before big decisions are made or big events are planned AND after decisions are made and events happen. We should work toward it being our first thought and greatest comfort to seek God's help, strength, and wisdom for all that we do, so much so that we pray to Him even while in the middle of big events and as decisions are being made.
Side note: Jesus also left us an example to pray for blessing and give thanks to God for our food before we eat: feeding the multitudes (Matthew 14:19, 15:36), at His institution of the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-27), and at the supper in Emmaus after His resurrection (Luke 24:30-31). Consider Romans 14:6.
Jesus prayed when life was unusually busy. Jesus often withdrew from the crowds that thronged Him to pray to His Father (Mark 1 :35; 5:15-16, Matthew 14:23). We don't likely have crowds thronging us, but we may have many obligations that pull us in several directions. Women today wear many hats: being all things to their husband and family, some work outside their home or from home, while others volunteer at school/community groups outside the home in their "spare" time. Just as Jesus purposed reprieve from His hectic schedule to commune with His Father, so too should we purpose time to be in solitude with God, so that we can recharge our spiritual batteries (Galatians 6:9-10, Psalm 138:3, 2 Corinthians 4:16, Psalm 18:32) and refresh our focus (Colossians 3:1-2)!
Jesus prayed without ceasing (2 Thessalonians 5:17) - He never gave up on prayer - and neither should we! Let us add more prayer to our day ! Let's run to God in good times and bad to seek His help and nourish our souls, to praise Him and honour Him at all times for being our loving Father, and for providing us with the perfect example to follow!
To be more like the Son in 2021 - pray, pray, PRAY!!
You can do it! So can I!!
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