Author MICHAEL T. POWERS

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
~Mark 1:35

Have you ever used the word "radical" to describe prayer?

Don't fall for the myth that prayer is a gentle, sedate, boring responsibility that all Christians have to endure. Prayer is the opportunity to grab the ear of God and talk to your heart's content. About anything and everything. Prayer is the chance to enlist the most powerful Friend in the world to help you--no matter what you're facing. Prayer is the opportunity to have your most nagging questions answered. Prayer is the chance of a lifetime. And you'd have to be a fool not to wring it for all it's worth.

If you're ready to boost the power of your prayer life, you'll find a couple of helpful tips in the passage above. If anyone understood the radical nature of prayer, it was Jesus. Notice the time of day he chose for his conversation with God. Very early in the morning. Jesus couldn't wait to get started.

Do you feel that way about your prayer time? Have you tried setting aside a time early in the day for prayer? You don't necessarily have to get up before dawn, but if you make prayer the first thing you do after you wake up, you'll be a whole lot better prepared to face the challenges of the day.

Notice also the way Jesus protected his time with God. He secluded himself in a place where nothing could interrupt his train of thought. He wanted his entire focus to be on his heavenly Father.

What steps can you take to follow his example? Do you know of a place where you can be alone--away from interruptions and distractions? The good thing about prayer is that you can do it anywhere--a closet, the shower, or even in the car. (Just don't close your eyes if you're driving!)

For a snapshot of Jesus' early ministry, read through Mark 1:1-45.

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Common Excuses for Not Getting Up Before Dawn to Pray

* "If I don't get 12 hours of sleep a night, I'm a wreck."
* "I prefer the crack of noon to the crack of dawn."
* "I didn't know there was such a thing as 5 a.m.!"
* "I don't go to bed until 1 a.m.!"
* "I'm a slave to my body clock."
* "I'm not Jesus."
* "I don't have anything that important to tell God."
* "If God wanted me to be praying at sunrise, he would have made the sun rise later in the day."

Taken from "Revolution Devotional", copyright 2005,