Jesus and prayer.

When thinking about prayer we must go to our greatest example....Jesus. Jesus would often slip away for prayer alone:

Luke 5:16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

So get alone and sen time with God in prayer.

Jesus taught us the fundamentals of how to pray here:

Matthew 6:5-13 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Study His prayer and learn the basics, it will help your prayer life!

Jesus warned us to be in prayer and alert for attacks from our own flesh and the devil!

Mark 14:38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Jesus was serious about His prayers to God and so should we. As the cross was approaching Jesus prayed so hard that his sweat was drops of blood:

Luke 22:44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit back to help us to be more effective in prayer among other things:

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Jesus now is at the right hand of the Father making intercession for His followers:

Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Jesus had a whole lot more to say about prayer. Get in the bible and search it out. Prayer is our communication line with God and is of utmost importance! Don’t neglect the blessing of talking to and listening to God!

Tom

*Some of these thoughts were gathered from “The battle plan for Prayer” by Stephen and Alex Kendrick