S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The prayers Jesus prayed give us insight into His nature, His heart, and His mission on earth. The prayers of Jesus also inform and encourage us in our own prayer lives. Far more important than whe...

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December 01 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What can we learn from the prayers that Jesus prayed?

Jesus' prayers teach us to prioritise intimacy with God by calling him "Father," to align our will with God's, and to pray persistently, even in times of intense suffering. Key lessons include prioritising solitude, focusing on others, praying for God's glory over personal comfort, and using Scripture to deepen spiritual connection.

Lessons from the Prayers of Jesus:

Intimate Relationship: Jesus addressed God as "Abba," or Father, highlighting that prayer is built on a personal, loving relationship rather than merely asking for things. 

Submission to God's Will: Even in agonising moments like Gethsemane, Jesus modelled submission by praying, "Yet not as I will, but as you will," choosing divine purpose over comfort. 

Prioritise Solitude and Timing: Jesus often withdrew from crowds to lonely, quiet places, demonstrating the need to remove distractions to connect with God. 

Intercessory Focus: Jesus often prayed for others—disciples, believers, and even his enemies—rather than solely for himself. 

Persistence and Repetition: He urged consistent prayer (asking, seeking, knocking) and prayed the same things repeatedly, indicating that God desires persistent communication. 

Purpose of Unity: In John 17, Jesus prays for unity among believers, showing that our unity is a witness to the world of God's love. 

Finding Strength in Trouble: He used prayer to find strength in moments of temptation and extreme emotional distress.

Kingdom Focus: "Your kingdom come"—prioritise God's agenda over personal ones.

Forgiveness: "Forgive us... as we also have forgiven"—acknowledge that receiving God's grace is linked to extending it to others.

By means of his own prayers to God the Father, Jesus set an example for his disciples to follow. Throughout his ministry, Jesus prayed frequently. He had to set aside time to pray because he was often busy and surrounded by many people. (Mark 6:31, 45, 46) He got up early so he could have time alone to pray. (Mark 1:35) On at least one occasion, he prayed all night before making an important decision. (Luke 6:12, 13) And Jesus prayed repeatedly on the night before he died as he focused on completing the most challenging aspect of his earthly assignment.​—Matt. 26:39, 42, 44.

Jesus' example teaches us that no matter how busy we are, we need to set aside time to pray. 

Jesus included the following petition in the model prayer: "Do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the wicked one." (Matt. 6:13)

We must also act in harmony with our prayers. We can take practical steps to minimise our exposure to the wrong thinking and ideas popular in Satan's system. (Ps. 97:10) We can fill our minds with wholesome thoughts by reading and studying the Bible. 

Do not let anything or anyone stop you from regularly praying to our generous God.

Set aside time each day for heartfelt prayer. Or, heavenly Father wants us to "Trust in him at all times, ye people; Pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us." Ps. 62:8 ESV

4 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report