“…Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1Peter 2:21).

Considering the subject of prayer, one cannot be said to be following in the steps of Jesus if prayer is not a personal priority in his life. For example:

*      After healing the multitudes at Capernaum, before daybreak Jesus went to a solitary place and prayed (Mark 1:35).

*      After the miracle of feeding the 5,000, Jesus ascended a nearby mountain and prayed (Matthew 14:23)

*      At His baptism, Jesus prayed (Luke 3:21)

*      Before his first confrontation with the Jewish leaders, Jesus prayed (Luke 5:16)

*      Before choosing the 12 disciples, Jesus prayed (Luke 6:12).

*      Before the first prophecy of His death, Jesus prayed (Luke 9:18).

*      At the transfiguration site, Jesus prayed (Luke 9:29).

*      Jesus was praying when His disciples came and asked Him to “teach us how to pray” (Luke 11:1).

*      In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed (Matthew 26:39).

*      While hanging on the Cross, Jesus prayed (Luke 23:34 & 36)

Furthermore, Jesus admonished His disciples to pray: “Pray that ye enter not into temptation” (Luke 22:40).  Jesus encouraged His followers to “Ask, and it shall be given you” (Luke 11:9). Jesus even told three parables, the major emphasis of which was prayer: Luke 11:5-13;  Luke 18:1-8;  Luke 18:11-13.

The point is this: Since the Son of God felt such a keen need of prayer, how much more ought we to feel this need?!  Would Jesus spend so much time in His brief stay on this earth in prayer if it availed nothing?!  Would Jesus encourage His disciples to pray if it was really just a waste of time?

How much power in the individual Christian’s life, as well as in the church, is voided because of a lack of fervent prayer?  “Power belongs to God” (Psalm 62:11);  God will give power to His faithful children (2 Timothy 1:7) — however, “You have not, because you ask not” (James 4:2).

Toby Miller