Likewise, you can live in step with God’s will, moving in sync with His perfect timing.

As we step into a new year, you probably have new year resolutions and a drive for “new year, new me”. These are recommendable if you want a more purposeful, meaningful and productive year. But have you ever thought about the steps to take to be at the centre of God’s will for your life this year?

Is there a singular action to take to align your entire life with God’s plan like a metronome?

In the same way, music would be harmonious and beautiful if musicians follow the metronome, your decisions in the coming year will only yield the best results when you are in step with God.

What can you do to be at this point? The answer is pretty simple: Pray.

For the believer, prayer is the sacred practice that helps us be in sync with God’s leading and brings us to alignment with God at every point. A man who prays is a man God can lead. Do you know how much of a privilege is to follow the Alpha and Omega?

Our God is a God that knows the end already and so if you follow him, you are sure to be at the right place every time. And the way to harness this advantage is to give yourself to prayer.

Jesus is a prime example of a man given to prayer and through prayer, he was aligned to God’s will for him on earth. This is why He was able to say:

John 5:19
New King James Version
19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

Jesus lived a life of perfect alignment with God and this can also be your testimony as a believer. In Jesus’ life, we do not only see a message to believe but we also have an example to follow. What we learn from Jesus is that he was aligned with God because he was a man of consistent prayers.

He paid attention to prayer and waiting on God before major actions in His life. This helped Him to be sensitive and effective in his ministry. Let’s look into some of them:

Matthew 4:2
New King James Version
2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards He was hungry.

This was after Jesus’ baptism. He retreated to the place of prayer and it was after this retreat that Jesus started public ministry here on earth.

Luke 6:12-13
New King James Version
12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:

This text shows us that Jesus spent time praying before choosing His disciples. He prayed all night!

Matthew 26:39, 42, 44
New King James Version
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Jesus prayed at Gethsemane before his crucifixion. He knew his divine destiny but at the season of fulfilment, the flesh crept in and Jesus’ strategy to realign himself to God’s will was to pray long until he was ready to fulfill destiny.

The Bible records in Luke’s account that he prayed until his sweat was like droplets of blood.

Luke 22:42-44
New King James Version
42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”
43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Jesus prayed long and fervently till his flesh was subdued. Just like in Jesus’ case, spending time in the place of prayer aligns the believer with the will of God.

These examples show that Jesus didn’t approach prayer as a last resort or a ritual obligation, but prayer was the foundation of His life and ministry. He paid attention to prayers at special seasons when he made major decisions or was in great need.

Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭‬‬
New King James Version
15 “However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.
16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.”

It was through prayer that Jesus aligned himself and all that he did in ministry, to God’s will. If you’re looking to do the same in your life this new year, you must do what Jesus did.

If Jesus, God in the flesh, prayed to fulfil His mission, how much more do we need prayer in our lives? Spending long hours in prayer aligns your heart with God’s heart. Prayer is the sacred act that silences fears, clarifies decisions and strengthens our obedience.

This new year, resolve to do what Jesus did: dedicate yourself to fervent, long and consistent prayer. Through prayer, you will be in perfect harmony with God’s will like a musician following a metronome and your life will begin to make sense in the grand symphony of God’s plan.

Prayer Point
This year, I am given totally to prayer. I stay in the place of prayer to receive strength for all God would have me do, I am led by God on every single step to take, and I am effective in my devotion and in ministry.