Most of us probably don't get up and pray while it’s still very dark. My guess is, given the chance, most of us would sleep in every day. Yet here’s Jesus, doing something that sounds crazy. Which makes me wonder — why did he do that? Why get up while it was still dark and go pray in a deserted place?

I think Jesus realized something that most of us do not. Having a relationship with God, hearing God’s voice, and doing what God would have us to do takes some effort on our part. That means setting aside time to be in a place without distractions, to spend time alone with God. Jesus came to set an example for us — praying alone, but also having a public faith; going to where people were, telling them about God, and meeting their needs. We should strive to do the same.

By Susan Reed from D365