Author, Michael Lloyd, writes: ‘One of the most striking features of Jesus was his prayer life. For one thing, He gave quite a lot of time to it. In addition to the daily rhythm of private prayer (morning, afternoon, and evening, and benedictions before and after meals), the weekly rhythm of public prayer in the synagogue (Luke 4:16) and the annual rhythm of festivals in the temple (John 2:13, 5:1, 7:10, 10:22), He would often get up early in the morning and escape to a ‘solitary place’ to pray (Mark 1:35). Sometimes, He would spend the night in prayer (Luke 6:12), and His whole public ministry grew out of and drew upon the forty days He spent fasting and praying in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13, Matthew 4:1-11). If we ask ourselves why Jesus’ ministry was so fruitful and effective, we should surely not look to His divinity alone (Mark 9:29).’

Michael Lloyd, 2005, Café Theology, London: Alpha International, p.282-283