“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, NKJV)

Mark is careful to chronicle the prayer life of Jesus. His regular habit was to wake up very early in the morning, while the disciples were still sleeping, and find a solitary place to pray. So much was at stake. He only had three and a half years to complete His mission to save the world. Often, He acknowledged His complete dependence on the Father. He could not preach the gospel, cast out demons, and heal the sick without receiving wisdom, power, and guidance from God. He could not know His purpose or the steps He should take apart from this time of communion with His Father.

Meanwhile, the people came out looking for Jesus, so the disciples went searching for Him. When they found Him, Peter said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

“But He said to them, ‘Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.’” (Mark 1:38, NKJV)

Jesus could have remained in Capernaum and had a successful ministry. But He did not come to build a great following; He came to preach the Gospel to the lost sheep of Israel. And this required that He travel from city to city. But how could He know His purpose? How could He know God’s strategic plan for His life and ministry apart from prayer?

Likewise, we must also seek God in prayer.

“You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13, NKJV)

Charles Spurgeon said, “I will never see the face of man until I have seen the face of God.” He knew that one cannot properly face the trials, temptations, or duties of the day without first receiving strength and perspective from God. He believed that the “glow” of a person's character in public was the reflection of the time spent in the “secret place” of prayer. Therefore, the morning hours were sacred to him.

Personally, I have found that if I do not spend time in communion with the Lord early in the morning then the busyness of the day will rob me of it. I cannot know my purpose, nor receive grace and power to do it, apart from seeking the Lord’s face and asking for His mercy and help. This does not just “happen”. It is a constant battle to keep it my priority.

How can you faithfully seek God’s face before seeing anyone else?