Christ rises early to pray. It is starting to get light, but the sun is not risen and he wishes to be alone with his heavenly Father to pray for the great ministry he is about to embark on.
If the Son of God would do this, how much more should we! We have no divine foresight. He was without sin, but we have a fallen nature: bad temper, bad reactions, love of ease, preoccupation with material things, unkindness, and envy. Do not start the day without having your personal devotions. Whether you choose to have your main time of prayer in the morning or in the evening make sure you pray. Even if you have your devotion in the evening, make sure you pray for some time in the morning. Adore him, thank him, repent of sin. Bring real things in your prayer, real needs. Intercede for husband, wife, children. Dedicate yourself to him, both body and time. Find a quiet place. Don’t pray the same pray each day, but keep up with your current needs. Keep lists of things to pray for if you cannot remember. You cannot necessarily pray for all your needs in a single day; you may need to organise your prayers across the week. Pray in the church meeting, but pray also alone, in a solitary place. How can we prosper without it?