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

Prayer should be easy.

Through prayer we have immediate and constant access to the Creator of the universe (Isaiah 40:28). He takes time to listen, He cares about our problems and concerns, and He promises to help us (Psalm 34:17).

Prayer should be easy. But it’s not. At least not for me. 

A quick Google search will unearth various reasons why we might struggle with prayer. But I believe mine stems from the same self-reliance I wrote about in last week’s blog (you can read it here). For any of us who are type “A” personalities, those whose drive and energy push us to achieve, prayer can seem too passive. It also doesn’t produce the immediate results we crave. 

There have been times when prayer became my last resort ~ after I tried fixing everything myself. As I’ve grown as a disciple of Christ, I’ve also grown in my practice of prayer. Thankfully, I now pray for all areas of my life ~ and not just when I’ve reached the end of my rope. But just like success can lull me into independence from God, it can also cause me to relax in my prayer life.

When God answers my prayers, I tend to whisper a quick “thank you” before moving on with my agenda. But by doing so, I miss out on some incredible prayer opportunities. Jesus sets the example for us in all things, including prayer. And in the gospel of Mark, at the end of a very busy day for Jesus, I found this beautiful picture of what my prayers should look like in times of success.

Jesus and His first disciples, Peter, Andrew, James, and John started their day at the synagogue where Jesus began to teach the people. Unlike the normal practice of rabbis of His day, Jesus did not cite other rabbis or repeat the traditions of others, but spoke with the authority of God. When a man possessed by an impure spirit interrupted the teaching, Jesus immediately cast it out. Those in the synagogue were amazed by both His teaching and His authority over evil spirits (Mark 1:21-28).

When Jesus and His disciples left the synagogue, they went to the home of Peter and Andrew. After Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law of her fever, the whole town gathered at the door. Jesus healed many people, and drove out many demons (Mark 1:29-34).

Not only did Jesus have a busy day, but also a very successful one. He taught effectively and successfully healed many people. But unlike me, He didn’t whisper a quick word of thanks and move forward with His ministry. Instead, He spent time in prayer:

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

When I picture this scene, I don’t see a quick prayer. Rather, I see Jesus sitting silently before God, sharing the joy of the success, but also seeking guidance for His next steps. When the disciples approach Him, He had the answer:

Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. (Mark 1:38-39 NIV)

Jesus didn’t allow success to keep Him from drawing near to God in prayer. Instead He used it as a means to draw closer to God, and by doing so, He remained God-reliant. 

Lord Jesus, thank You for showing us how to pray during times of success. May we follow Your example and allow prayer to draw us closer to the Father at all times. And may our prayers keep us reliant on Him rather than ourselves. We pray in Your name. Amen.