Yet He Often...

Jesus prayed A LOT! How much do you pray?

Yet He Often...

This week's devotions are written by my son, Bryant Forshee, Junior High Pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church.

- Pastor Danny

"Yet he often withdrew to deserted places and prayed."

(Luke 5:16, CSB)

I am thankful to have an example like Jesus to follow. That sentence is not earth-shattering and is probably something I take for granted daily, but for today's devotional, I really wanted to reflect on one aspect of Jesus' example that we all need desperately to follow: Jesus' prayer life.

In the scripture above, look at how the sentence starts off: "Yet he often..." This "he" is none other than Jesus, and what Luke wanted to depict for readers, for us, is that Jesus OFTEN prayed, and furthermore, Jesus often went to deserted places to pray. There are MANY instances and verses where Jesus is recorded praying! Here is not a comprehensive list but several examples:

Luke 3:21, CSB: "When all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. As he was praying, heaven opened."

Matthew 14:23, CSB: "After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone."

Mark 6:46, CSB: "After he said good-bye to them, he went away to the mountain to pray."

Luke 6:12, CSB: "During those days he went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God."

Mark 1:35, CSB: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying."

Luke 5:16, CSB: "Yet he often withdrew to deserted places and prayed."

Luke 9:18, CSB: "While he was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, 'Who do the crowds say that I am?'"

Matthew 26:36, CSB: "Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he told the disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."

Matthew 26:39, CSB: "Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'"

Matthew 26:42, CSB: "Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, 'My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.'"

Matthew 26:44, CSB: "After leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more."

Mark 14:32, CSB: "Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, 'Sit here while I pray.'"

Mark 14:35, CSB: "He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him."

Mark 14:39, CSB: "Once again he went away and prayed, saying the same thing."

Luke 11:1, CSB: "He was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.'"

Matthew 19:13, CSB: "Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them."

Luke 22:32, CSB: "But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

John 17:1-25: [Heading of the section:] Jesus Prays for Himself

Jesus prayed A LOT! With Jesus as our example and model, I want to ask you: How often do you pray? Put in a "fill in the blank" way: I pray _________. What would go in that blank? Would it be words like regularly, without ceasing, everyday, hourly? Or would it be words like scarcely, sporadically, inconsistently? What word would you put in that blank? I am asking myself these questions as well.

My challenge for myself and for you, today and every day, is to be like Jesus, especially when it comes to prayer. Let us pray OFTEN!

Partner with us in spreading the Gospel!

Will you help fuel our efforts to spread the Gospel
and equip and empower other Christians to do the same?

Count me in! ▶

Podcast of the Week

The Beatitudes, Pt. 8

Pastor Danny continues his series about the Beatitudes of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5-7. In this episode, he concludes his examination of Matthew 5:6 - "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."

Listen on your preferred platform: