Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd [in Capernaum] sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee. (Luke 4:42-44)
Why did Jesus go into a deserted place? Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. (Mark 1:35) This is a great example by Jesus of the perfect way to start our day! King David said in one of the Psalms, And in the morning my prayer comes before You. (Psalm 88:13)
Why pray if God is omniscient, knows everything? Several reasons, but first of all we have to be a child of God in order for God the Father to even "hear" and possibly answer our prayers. If anyone is not a Christian, Repent therefore of this your wickedness [sinful life], and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. (Acts 8:22) God will know if you are sincere; You [God] have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say. (Psalms 17:3) If you have sincerely prayed a prayer of repentance, then ...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
For those of us who are saved, who have accepted Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the lines of communication between us and God have been restored! How? For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, (I Timothy 2:5-6) And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (I John 2:1) Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26) As children of God, God has filled us with His Holy Spirit, and because we believe and have faith in His Son, Christ Jesus, God will "hear" our prayers.
But why pray? First, because God, our Heavenly Father enjoys spending that private time with us: He shall pray to God, and He [God] will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to man His righteousness. (Job 33:26) Second, if we make sure we pray the Word of God in our prayers, God will hear and answer because God says, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11) Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (I John 5:14)
Lastly, starting our day off in communication with God and establishing a close relationship with God will empower us, But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me, ... to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Jesus spent that time in the morning with God, and it empowered Him to go each day, And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. (Matthew 4:23-25; Mark 1:36-39) Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)
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