But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:4)

Although Jesus Christ was God incarnate, it is the aspect of His perfect humanity that exhorts us in the area of prayer. Jesus prayed. Do not let this simplistic statement become undervalued in our thinking. In the midst of thronging crowds and demands of life, He frequently and regularly separated Himself from others to pray. Certainly there were constant expressions of extemporaneous praying. The gospels bring out that truth. Yet, there was need for consistent seclusion for the purposes of prayer.

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. (Luke 5:16)

Luke provides a summarization of our Lord’s consistent prayer life. In the midst of exceeding fame and the great multitudes that were coming to both hear and be healed, the Scripture states that he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. This verse could be paraphrased in this matter – “Jesus habitually retired, separating himself from the multitudes into secluded (apart from people) geographical areas and prayed.” His favorite seclusion was the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18:1-2). Judas knew the region well. Very few preachers in this age have to deal with the multitudes Jesus ministered. Very few have the religious leaders of the day, listening to every word and watching every step in order to ensnare us. No man had the pressures of both the spiritual and physical world than the Lord Jesus. No man walked in the oneness of fellowship that was between the perfect man Jesus and His Father. Yet, the perfect Man teaches us that frequent retirement is necessary for a perfect man to live out the will of the Father. Certainly it is incumbent upon every believer to reconsider and scripturally examine the content, purpose, and necessity for these times of seclusion.