THOUGHTS ON PRAYER

It is always a good idea to pray, not only becuase our Lord instructed us to do so, but I also believe our need to pray is truly a desperate one.  Learning how to really pray ought to be a passionate desire of every true believer.

Let me put it this way.  While Jesus was here on earth, the Bible tells us that he was in the habit of much prayer.  Sometimes, when he was about to choose his disciples, for instance, he spent all night in prayer.

Now, let's stop for a moment and think about this concept of Jesus praying.

Obviously our Lord was and is an example for us as his followers.  Obviously his commitment to prayer was partly motivated by this desire to be examples for us.  But I want to consider this question.  "Why would the Son of God, on more than one occassion, feel the necessity of praying with such fervor that he would pray all night?"

Let me share why this is so intriguing to me.  Jesus had no sin to confess, for the Bible tells us that he was without sin.  Jesus did not have to seek to know the will of God, for as God he was aware of God's will and desires.  Jesus did not have to pray for wisdom, for he was the very essence of wisdom.  He did not have to pray for power, for he was the very power of God. Why, then, did he feel it necessary to pray all night?

Well, while you're pondering that question, let me quickly ask another.  This one is even more thought provoking: "If Jesus, as the Son of God, saw the need to pray so earnestly, what does that say of our need to pray who do have sin to confess and weaknesses from which we need to repent and needs that only He can supply?"

One of the greatest motivators for me to learn to pray is the realization that if Jesus saw it as necessary, it is even more necessary for me.

One other thought about Jesus' praying that stirs my heart:  The disciples had seen Jesus miraculously heal.  They had seen him miraculously turn water into wine and a few fish into sufficient means to feed thousands.  They had even seen Jesus raise the dead.  Yet, the Bible does not record that any of the disciples asked for the power to do these things.  Instead, what we do read is that they asked Him to teach them to pray.  Is it possible that they saw that learning to pray, really pray, as Jesus prayed, was the key to powerful and meaningful Christian living?

I suggest that Jesus' prayers were more than asking for God's blessings on the food.  I suggest that Jesus' praying was more than 'Now I lay me down to sleep' kinds of prayers.  I suggest that Jesus' prayers were more than a laundry list of all the ailments of friends and family.  I think we ought to all pray for these things, surely.  But somewhere in the process of our Christian lives, maybe we ought to ask the same question the disciples asked:  Lord, teach us to pray.

Lord, help me to become a man who really knows what it is to pray.  Then, precious Father, help me to truly pray with boldness, faith and courage.