Praying Like Jesusনমুনা

Day 23: SEEK – Jesus Retreats to Seek the Father’s Face

"After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. Later that night, He was there alone." – Matthew 14:23

In Matthew 14:13-21, Jesus feeds the 5,000 with a simple prayer, and the miracle unfolds. But immediately following this act of power, Jesus retreats to a quiet place to seek the Father. We see this withdrawal pattern throughout Jesus' ministry, where He regularly went away from the crowds to be alone with God, seeking the Father through prayer.

After performing the miracle of feeding the 5,000, He sends His disciples ahead on a boat and goes up to the mountainside alone to pray. In these moments of solitude, Jesus found the strength to continue His ministry. His connection with the Father was vital to His miraculous works. Jesus sought God's will before taking action, and these quiet prayer times were critical to His ministry’s power and direction.

In Matthew 14:22-35, Jesus walks on water to meet His disciples in the storm. Peter begins to sink when he steps out to join Him, but Jesus immediately reaches out and saves him. Jesus doesn’t just perform miracles; He engages with His disciples and teaches them about faith and trust in Him. But He only performs these acts after seeking the Father’s guidance in prayer.

Jesus' ability to perform miracles and lead His disciples stemmed from His deep, consistent seeking of God's presence. Without these quiet moments, His earthly ministry would not have been as powerful. If Jesus, the Son of God, needed this connection in His life, how much more do you need it in yours?

Today, think about the rhythms in your own life. Are you carving out time to seek God’s face and spend time in His presence? Just as Jesus withdrew to pray, we, too, need moments of solitude to be in His presence, gaining wisdom, strength, and guidance. Make time to seek God today and allow Him to refresh and direct your heart.