The Power of Prayer in Jesus' Life

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n the Gospels, we see Jesus perform miracles, preach to crowds, and lead His disciples. Yet, in every stage of His mission, prayer was central to His life. Today, we will reflect on three key moments when Jesus turned to prayer: after His great works, before making major decisions, and during times of trial. Through these moments, Jesus' life of prayer teaches us that prayer is not just about asking for things. There is so much more.

Part 1: Jesus Praying After Great Works

Matthew 14:23 – "After feeding the five thousand, Jesus dismissed the crowd and went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone."

After performing the great miracle of feeding the five thousand, Jesus retreated to the mountainside to pray. He had just done something extraordinary—multiplying the loaves and fishes—but He did not stay in the excitement of the moment. Instead, He withdrew to be with His Father in prayer.

In Ignatian spirituality, this is so vital. Even after a great consolation, Jesus’ strength and mission were rooted in His relationship with the Father. His time alone in prayer re-centered Him and kept Him connected to His Father as the source of consolation. For us, too, moments of success should lead us to prayer, acknowledging that all we do is by God’s grace, and we need His continued guidance. This is not about self-deprecation, but it is about being humble always. CS Lewis saw pride as the root of all sin and the greatest barrier between humans and God. I quote,

As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on thing and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you (Mere Christianity, Ch 8, "The Great Sin" - CS Lewis).

Further more, he describes pride as the “complete anti-God state of mind,” arguing that it leads to self-centeredness and alienation from others and from God.

Part 2: Jesus Praying Before Major Decisions

Luke 6:12-13 – "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles."

Before making the crucial decision of choosing His twelve apostles, Jesus spent the entire night in prayer. This was a pivotal moment in His ministry, as He was selecting the men who would carry on His mission. Rather than rushing into the decision, Jesus sought His Father’s guidance and wisdom.

Again in Ignatian spirituality, this is equally vital as the first. It is called prayer asking for indifference before we make important decisions in life. Whether it’s choosing a path, a vocation, or even how we interact with others, we should take time to seek God’s will in prayer. Jesus modeled for us that prayer is not about making decisions alone but about aligning our choices with God’s eternal plan.

Part 3: Jesus Praying in Times of Trial

Luke 22:42 – "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

In the Garden of Gethsemane, just before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus faced unimaginable suffering. In His moment of deepest anguish, He turned to prayer. He prayed for strength, for the Father’s will to be done, even as He asked for the cup of suffering to pass from Him. This prayer tells us something about prayer, that it is less about changing God and more about changing us. Prayer strengthens us, it changes our hearts to be more passionate especially when it has become lukewarm. It changes us to be more trusting in God’s will when spiritual dryness occurs. I call it spiritual doldrum which refers to a state of inactivity, stagnation, or depression. When someone says they are “in the doldrums,” they mean they are feeling stuck, unmotivated, or lacking energy and enthusiasm. This usage captures the sense of ships trapped in the calm waters because there is little to no wind. Prayer is very important because the doldrums are marked by light, variable winds, which can change direction and intensity unpredictably.

Jesus’ prayer in the garden teaches us how to respond when we face trials. This is the prayer of surrender when we cannot rely on our strength but on God’s strength which gives us the grace to endure. Jesus showed us that prayer in times of trial does not mean avoiding suffering but receiving the strength to trust in God's plan.

Jesus’ life of prayer gives us a powerful example to follow. He prayed after performing great works, before making important decisions, and amid deep suffering. His life shows us that prayer is not just about asking for things. There is something far greater. It is about staying in close communion with God at all times. And when we are in union with God "no power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us" (Rom 8:39). Amen. Fr JM Manzano SJ