From D. Kelly Ogden:
Jesus sometimes began his day by rising early and finding a solitary place to pray. “And in the morning, arising up a great while before before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed: (Mark 1:35). During his three-year mission, he repeatedly and deliberately set aside hours of solitude during which he prayed to Heavenly Father and rejuvenated his spirit:
“And when it was day, he departed into a desert place” (Luke 4:42). “And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed” (Luke 5:16). “He went out into the mountains to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). Other examples are found in Matthew 14;23, 17:1, 26:36, Luke 9:18; and John 6:15.
Although Jesus was incessantly pressed upon by multitudes and many times force to go without food and sleep, in key moments he would find solitude and commune with his Father in preparation for more spiritual labor. He also prepared the leaders of his Church: “He took Peter and John and James, and went up into the mountain to pray” (Luke 9:28).
Even during the agony of Gethsemane, Jesus astonished his Apostles, “Rise and pray lest ye enter into temptation” (Luke 22:46). Actually, that is one of the grand purposes of prayer: we can not succumb to temptation while we are engaged in sincere communication with our Father, so prayer is key to avoid ruining ourselves with sin. ~D. Kelly Ogden, A Year of Powerful Prayer (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2013) p. 68-69
