“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).

Prayer is the purposeful expression of one’s mind to God. It was first on Jesus’s mind in the morning, and His example urges us to pray each morning as we rise to face the day. Prayer is deliberate, not haphazard. And so, Jesus gave sufficient time to pray. He did not rush through prayer. He lingered in it as He spoke to His Father. Jesus went to a solitary, private place to pray, teaching us to do our best to remove distractions when we pray. Before the duties of the busy day engulf you, remember to pray. Linger in prayer to your heavenly Father and be strengthened for the day ahead.