EVER INTERCEDING JESUS’ PRAYER LIFE
BY DIANA BROWN
Jesus Himself prayed often. Being one of us while on this earth, Jesus was subjected to the same frustrations, temptations, joys and sorrows that affect us all today. Through it all, He prayed that God would give Him the help and strength to accomplish the task He had been given. Jesus is still our example today, thousands of years later. There are ten characteristics that describe Jesus’ prayer life, giving us a clear picture of what Jesus thought of prayer. These characteristics give us an example to follow. Let’s look at these ten characteristics of Jesus’ prayer life:
1. Jesus believed that prayer works. Matthew 7:7-11 (NIV) says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek
and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
2. Jesus prayed short and long prayers. The Lord’s Prayer, (Matthew 6:9-13 NIV) full of wisdom, is
short and can be easily memorized. But Jesus also dedicated long periods of time to prayer. “Jesus... spent the night praying to God.” (Luke 6:12 NIV)
3. Jesus got alone to pray. Matthew 14:23 (NIV) says, “After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.” Matthew 6:6, Mark 1:35-36, and Luke 5:16 also reveal Jesus’ commitment to being alone with God in prayer.
4. Jesus balanced private and shared praying. Luke 9:28 (NIV) says,
“About eight days after Jesus said this, He took Peter, John and James with Him and went up onto a mountain to pray.” We also see Him praying with His disciples in Luke 9:18.
5. Jesus prayed before meals. Mark 6:41 (NIV) says, “Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.”
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