JESUS WOULD PRAY
By Bill Blue
Most Americans regardless of faith would probably agree that people, even faithful Christians, do not pray enough. It comes as no surprise that unfaithful believers do not pray often enough, but why not faithful Christians? Perhaps the reasons why some Christians have poor prayer habits include material wealth and success, the influence of an ungodly culture, worldly values, and the lack of belief that God answers prayers. Perhaps tragedies and injustices in our daily lives convince some that God doesn’t care for our present needs. In the United States political-correctness has successfully banned God from schools and the workplace; God is out of sight and out of mind until the next worship service and as a result, godly people are out of practice, and have simply forgotten the importance of prayer. What would Jesus do? Jesus would pray.
Jesus had a habit of praying (Luke 5:16). We should have the same habit (1 Thess. 5:17).
Jesus would pray at any time of the day or night (Luke 6:12). Prayer was a priority for Christ. Jesus would even on occasion rise long before daylight to pray (Mark 1:35). In other words, Jesus planned for opportunities to pray.
Jesus would pray anywhere. Jesus prayed in the wilderness (Luke 5:16), on mountains (Mark 6:46, Luke 6:12, Luke 9:28), and at Gethsemane (Mark 14:32). In other words, Jesus took advantage of His opportunities to pray.
Jesus prayed long prayers (Luke 6:12) and short prayers (Luke 11:1-3). Our prayers to God have no required length as long as our prayer is humble and sincere (Matthew 6:5-7, Matthew 23:14, Mark 12:40, Luke 18:10-14, Luke 20:46-47). Regardless of length, Jesus prayed earnestly, knowing that the Creator of all things was listening (Luke 22:44).
Jesus would pray at many different occasions. Jesus prayed when He was baptized and began His ministry (Luke 3:21), before He selected twelve disciples to be His Apostles (Luke 6:12-13), at His transfiguration (Luke 9:28-32), before instituting the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26) and at His moments of greatest need (John 17:1; Luke 22:44).
Jesus would pray privately, in small groups and publicly. At times, Jesus sought opportunities to pray alone to God (Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, Luke 9:18, Luke 22:41). At times, He even asked the disciples to stay behind, or sent them away, so He could pray alone (Matthew 26:36; Mark 6:46). On other occasions, He took disciples with Him to pray (Luke 9:28).
Jesus prayed for many different people:
• Himself (John 17:1);
• The Apostles (John 14:16, John 17:6-15);
• All believers (John 17:20);
• His enemies (Luke 6:28); and
• The entire world (Matthew 5:44).
Jesus prayed for many different things, such as:
• God’s work (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2) and God’s will be done (Matthew 26:39, 42);
• Children be blessed (Matthew 19:13);
• Believers be strengthened and be able to strengthen others (Luke 22:32);
Jesus tells us how to pray. “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name [in other words, honor God and acknowledge His authority] Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven [we accept God’s will] Give us our daily bread [help us with our necessities of life – not material excess] And forgive us our sins [help us with our truly important problems, like avoiding hell] For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us [we acknowledge God’s word on mercy and forgiveness (Matt. 6:14-15; Mark 11:25), thus we conform to His will] And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one [again we focus on our true needs, spiritual in nature]” (Luke 11:1-4; Luke 22:40).
Jesus would pray for the right reasons. Jesus would not forget that God is a prayer’s target audience, not others listening to His prayer. Jesus would pray to enlist God’s help, not men’s attention (Matthew 6:5-7, Matthew 23:14, Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47).
Jesus tells us the benefits of prayer. Prayer strengthens our faith (Luke 18:1), and helps keep us from sin (Matthew 26:41, Mark 13:33, Mark 14:38, Luke 22:46).
Jesus would pray with faith, not doubting whether God would answer His prayer (Matthew 21:22, Matthew 26:53, Mark 11:24, Luke 18:1).
Jesus understood that some things happen only through prayer. In Mark 9:29, Jesus said to His disciples that, “This kind [of demon] can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” We do not have demon possession today, but the point is still valid. When Jesus Himself had no place else to turn, He “fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him” (Mark 14:35).
Do you pray as you should? Do you plan and find time to pray? Do you take advantage of opportunities to pray? Are your prayers humble and reverent? Do you pray for others? When times are good do you neglect prayer? Talk to your Father. In times of need do you hesitate to ask your Father for help because you failed to pray when times were good? Ask your Father for help. Jesus would.
By Bill Blue
Most Americans regardless of faith would probably agree that people, even faithful Christians, do not pray enough. It comes as no surprise that unfaithful believers do not pray often enough, but why not faithful Christians? Perhaps the reasons why some Christians have poor prayer habits include material wealth and success, the influence of an ungodly culture, worldly values, and the lack of belief that God answers prayers. Perhaps tragedies and injustices in our daily lives convince some that God doesn’t care for our present needs. In the United States political-correctness has successfully banned God from schools and the workplace; God is out of sight and out of mind until the next worship service and as a result, godly people are out of practice, and have simply forgotten the importance of prayer. What would Jesus do? Jesus would pray.
Jesus had a habit of praying (Luke 5:16). We should have the same habit (1 Thess. 5:17).
Jesus would pray at any time of the day or night (Luke 6:12). Prayer was a priority for Christ. Jesus would even on occasion rise long before daylight to pray (Mark 1:35). In other words, Jesus planned for opportunities to pray.
Jesus would pray anywhere. Jesus prayed in the wilderness (Luke 5:16), on mountains (Mark 6:46, Luke 6:12, Luke 9:28), and at Gethsemane (Mark 14:32). In other words, Jesus took advantage of His opportunities to pray.
Jesus prayed long prayers (Luke 6:12) and short prayers (Luke 11:1-3). Our prayers to God have no required length as long as our prayer is humble and sincere (Matthew 6:5-7, Matthew 23:14, Mark 12:40, Luke 18:10-14, Luke 20:46-47). Regardless of length, Jesus prayed earnestly, knowing that the Creator of all things was listening (Luke 22:44).
Jesus would pray at many different occasions. Jesus prayed when He was baptized and began His ministry (Luke 3:21), before He selected twelve disciples to be His Apostles (Luke 6:12-13), at His transfiguration (Luke 9:28-32), before instituting the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26) and at His moments of greatest need (John 17:1; Luke 22:44).
Jesus would pray privately, in small groups and publicly. At times, Jesus sought opportunities to pray alone to God (Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, Luke 9:18, Luke 22:41). At times, He even asked the disciples to stay behind, or sent them away, so He could pray alone (Matthew 26:36; Mark 6:46). On other occasions, He took disciples with Him to pray (Luke 9:28).
Jesus prayed for many different people:
• Himself (John 17:1);
• The Apostles (John 14:16, John 17:6-15);
• All believers (John 17:20);
• His enemies (Luke 6:28); and
• The entire world (Matthew 5:44).
Jesus prayed for many different things, such as:
• God’s work (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2) and God’s will be done (Matthew 26:39, 42);
• Children be blessed (Matthew 19:13);
• Believers be strengthened and be able to strengthen others (Luke 22:32);
Jesus tells us how to pray. “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name [in other words, honor God and acknowledge His authority] Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven [we accept God’s will] Give us our daily bread [help us with our necessities of life – not material excess] And forgive us our sins [help us with our truly important problems, like avoiding hell] For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us [we acknowledge God’s word on mercy and forgiveness (Matt. 6:14-15; Mark 11:25), thus we conform to His will] And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one [again we focus on our true needs, spiritual in nature]” (Luke 11:1-4; Luke 22:40).
Jesus would pray for the right reasons. Jesus would not forget that God is a prayer’s target audience, not others listening to His prayer. Jesus would pray to enlist God’s help, not men’s attention (Matthew 6:5-7, Matthew 23:14, Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47).
Jesus tells us the benefits of prayer. Prayer strengthens our faith (Luke 18:1), and helps keep us from sin (Matthew 26:41, Mark 13:33, Mark 14:38, Luke 22:46).
Jesus would pray with faith, not doubting whether God would answer His prayer (Matthew 21:22, Matthew 26:53, Mark 11:24, Luke 18:1).
Jesus understood that some things happen only through prayer. In Mark 9:29, Jesus said to His disciples that, “This kind [of demon] can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” We do not have demon possession today, but the point is still valid. When Jesus Himself had no place else to turn, He “fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him” (Mark 14:35).
Do you pray as you should? Do you plan and find time to pray? Do you take advantage of opportunities to pray? Are your prayers humble and reverent? Do you pray for others? When times are good do you neglect prayer? Talk to your Father. In times of need do you hesitate to ask your Father for help because you failed to pray when times were good? Ask your Father for help. Jesus would.
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1 comment:
Hi Billy, We are currently studing prayer in our Wed. bible class. I read your article in the paper and just thought it was great, and would be very helpful in our studies. I will be bringing copies of it for our class tonight. You see we are having topical studies right now on Wed.'s and prayer was one of my request. So I have been studing and researching it. I know the Lord answers prayers in his on time and in his own way, but I thought it sure was nice of him to use my home town to give me some of the information I was looking for. My thanks to you and to God. In Christ, Carmen Stanley
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