BIBLE READING: LEVITICUS 25; MARK 1: 23 – 45
“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed ” Mark 1: 35 (KJV)
The life of Jesus was a life of prayer. He showed the importance of prayer in the life of a believer. He exemplified effective and committed prayer life. He spent quality time in prayer before he began his ministry. He fasted and stayed in the place of prayer before choosing the apostles so He can align with the plan and purpose of the Father.
Jesus’ private prayer life was the reason for the successful public ministry. He settled issues in the place of prayer and exercise spiritual authority in the public ministry. The apostles witnessed his prayer life and they were challenged by his commitment to prayer. They came to him and demanded that he teach them to pray.
Jesus spent quality time in private prayer all through his ministry that is why he could give a command and sickness, diseases, demons, storms and waves will obey him. The public exercise of power was as a result of His private prayer in the closest. He gave a parable to stress the importance of prayer. “And he spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” Luke 18: 1 (KJV).
Jesus would rise early in the morning and go to the mountain or to a solitary place to pray. He would go sometimes in the early hours of the evening and tarry all night. He showed, by his commitment to prayer, His dependence on the Father. Even at the last days of His ministry before His crucifixion, Jesus took the disciples to Gethsemane to pray for grace to go through the cross and for the salvation of man. He challenged the disciple to pray with him for at least an hour.
Prayer: Dear Father, help me to emulate the prayer life of Jesus.
Rev. Vincent Diolu