Alone, before dawn
“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”
Mark 1:35
Even with crowds waiting, Jesus made solitude with the Father his first priority of the day.
The words and acts of Jesus
How Jesus Prayed
Jesus prayed constantly, and the way he prayed teaches us how. He rose before dawn to be alone with the Father. He prayed whole nights on a mountain. He prayed with thanksgiving, and he prayed in surrender, Not my will, but thine. Each habit below is quoted from the King James Version and cited. His prayer life is the pattern for ours.
More than what Jesus prayed, this page is about how he prayed: the rhythms and posture of the Son toward the Father. Here is what the Gospels record about his practice of prayer.
Whole nights in prayer
“And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”
Luke 6:12
Before choosing his twelve apostles, he prayed through the entire night. Big decisions were bathed in prayer.
Withdrawing from the crowds
“And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.”
Luke 5:16
As his fame grew, so did his withdrawals. The busier he was, the more deliberately he sought quiet with God.
With thanksgiving
“I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”
Matthew 11:25
His prayers were full of thanks and delight in the Father's ways, not only requests.
In surrender
“O my Father... nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
Matthew 26:39
In Gethsemane he brought his real anguish to God and yet yielded his will to the Father's, the deepest note of his prayer.
Teaching us to pray
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
Matthew 6:9
When asked, he gave a simple, warm model prayer that begins by calling God Father and hallowing his name.
What this shows about Jesus
Jesus, the Son of God, still made time to pray, early, often, and alone. If he leaned so fully on the Father, how much more do we need to. His pattern, solitude, thanksgiving, and surrender, is an open invitation to pray as he prayed.
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These are his own words and deeds
Everything on this page is drawn straight from the Gospels, nothing added, nothing softened. The living Christ is not an argument to be won but a Person to be met, and he still draws near to everyone who comes to him with an open heart. Read his own words, watch what he does, and see. The Gospel of John is a gentle place to begin.
Meet JesusRead the Gospel of JohnThe gospelJesus Christ is Lord.
Frequently asked questions
- How often did Jesus pray?
- Constantly. He rose before dawn to pray (Mark 1:35), withdrew to lonely places (Luke 5:16), and once prayed all night before choosing his apostles (Luke 6:12). Prayer framed his whole life and every major decision.
- What can we learn from how Jesus prayed?
- To seek solitude with the Father, to pray with thanksgiving (Matthew 11:25), and to surrender our will as he did in Gethsemane: 'not as I will, but as thou wilt' (Matthew 26:39). He also taught the simple 'Our Father' prayer.