Why did jesus pray alone?
Have you ever thought about how Jesus prayed alone? Why was Jesus looking for solitude? I mean, obviously He was a people person right? Before I say anything else, make sure you do not hear me suggesting He has ADHD, because I am NOT saying that, but I am going to connect a little bit of praying alone and distractions (that are out of control!) in our current age.
When I think about all the different things I have observed in Jesus’ prayer life, the one thing that stands out above the rest is His resolve to get time alone with the Father. We can speculate from the information we are given, and I have written a series on Jesus’ prayer life you can check out, but I want to dig into the condition of attention deficient hyperactive disciples (My reference for “ADHD”).
HELP FOR THE DISTRACTED DISCIPLE
I’ve been teaching on prayer for many years, and one thing I was known for was always giving people ‘tools’ or ‘resources’ with my teaching. I used to think the reason for that was I was a hands-on children’s-youth-type teacher, but now I believe it’s a different reason than that.
I always gravitated toward teachings that were hands on, or gave me some sort of tangible practice as opposed to just more head knowledge… i wanted to practice something! I remember when this couple came and visited my church and talked about declarations and the power of your tongue. (Here is the book that couple recommended that helped me in this, and this kids version that was great with my kiddos) This was already a practice of mine, daily declarations, and in fact really set me free from spiraling negatively in my mind, but they added this tool to the approach- a clicker counter. I know that must sound strange, but for me it was the ‘fidget’ toy if you will, that helped my brain stay focused on the task at hand.
what in the world do you do with a clicker?
What I would do with it was start my morning prayer time by offering thanksgiving, gratitude, and declarations… 100 at minimum before I allowed myself to jump into any other prayers such as intercession, supplication, or pouring my heart out in communion. It really shifted my mornings, and my entire days because the truth is we have a lot more to be thankful about than sad, disappointed or angry if we really think about it, and the balance weighing wrong in our mind not only affects our attitude, but our health and the energy we attract.
This prompted me to gather together several declaration-type tools that I was using in my prayer time and begin to compile them, teach them, and give them away to those on a similar journey of overcoming negative thinking and winning the battle in the mind. This was serious stuff to me because I battled chronic depression since I was a young girl and it was a battle that wasn’t going away. I couldn’t spend more than a few minutes praying before anxious and fearful thoughts would overwhelm me.
it’s all in your head
You’ve probably heard the saying, “The mind is a very powerful thing.” And it’s true—but here’s the part many people overlook: you are the one who gives it that power. You control the source that fuels your thoughts.
If you ever feel “scatter-brained”—whether or not you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD—it’s no surprise. Every single day, countless people, voices, advertisers, and hidden agendas are competing for your attention, all at once. And to make matters worse, even while you are sleeping there are networks, the neighbors active wifi devices, dirty electricity, emfs, and so on- all sending signals to your brain while it is trying to repair and rest. Think about it- even doing nothing, just sleeping, you are in a battle your unaware of that is wearing you down. Now, how do you get on the offense and build up your spirit-man? Look at Jesus’ example.
why did jesus pray alone?
Jesus was a disciplined man, no doubt. He didn’t have an alarm clock to wake him either. Yet often we see Him rising early, before the disciples that were with Him, to get time alone in prayer. This example He set for us has been a practice my entire Christian life- to connect in prayer with the Father first thing in the morning. It is Jesus’ example for a reason.
If you are prone to distraction, you will only become more distracted as the day goes on. One of my most favorite times to sit in the prayer has always been 4-6am. Why? No one else is awake. I will not be getting any calls or texts. No one is open for business yet so my mind is more at ease knowing that there is nothing I can take care of ‘right now’ anyhow. It is an interesting example that Jesus also would often be praying before the sun came up.
“Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
was jesus a distracted man?
How could He not be distracted as He is being pulled a thousand different ways? Again, I am not saying He had ADHD, but the pressures of everyone wanting to see Him and talk to Him, and just be with Him in His presence, He struggled to get a minute alone to gather His thoughts.
Here are some passages that give emphasis to Jesus’ priority in prayer and finding time alone with the Father:
“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.”
“When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened,”
“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.”
“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed…
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“After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone,”
The hard work of prayer
Even though Jesus walked the earth before smartphones and digital media, He was still faced with mass distraction. If Jesus had to discipline Himself to get alone and wrestle the demands of the voices around Him, how much more do we? Yes, prayer is hard work. (Great book on prayer here I recommend) The actual work of connecting and staying focused once you get into the solitary place, that is hard. And getting yourself into that quiet place alone with God, well that is equally hard.
Maybe your distraction isn’t others, maybe you are single and live alone and have all the space you can imagine- but there is still things irritating you, keeping you from settling down and making that appointment with God a priority in your day. Distraction is distraction. Whether it comes from the internal or external. It is a battle every believer faces- and it’s not ever going away. We must make a decision to get focused and stop allowing ourselves to be companions with a busy mind.
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