Evening Devotional - The Power of Prayer, How Jesus Pray
Good evening, friends. As we close out the day, let us reflect on a vital aspect of Jesus' life that we can all learn from—the power of prayer. Jesus, the Son of God, showed us the importance of prayer in His life and ministry. Through His examples, He taught us how to pray, when to pray, and why prayer is essential for a strong, abiding relationship with God.
1. The Lord’s Prayer
Let’s start by looking at the most well-known prayer Jesus taught His disciples. In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus gave us a model for prayer that has stood the test of time:
"Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'"
In these verses, Jesus teaches us several key principles:
Address God as Father: This reminds us of our intimate relationship with God, not as a distant ruler, but as our loving Father who cares for us.
Hallow God’s Name: We are to approach God with reverence, acknowledging His holiness and greatness.
Desire His Will: Jesus models for us that our prayers should not focus solely on our needs, but on aligning ourselves with God’s purposes.
Dependence on God: Just as we need daily bread, we need to rely on God daily for strength, forgiveness, and protection.
The Lord's Prayer is not just a prayer to be repeated mindlessly; it is a model to shape how we approach God in prayer every day.
2. Jesus’ Prayers in Gethsemane
Now, let’s consider the powerful moment in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus prayed before His impending suffering and death. Matthew 26:36-44 describes this agonizing scene:
"Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here, while I go over there and pray.' And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.' And going a little farther, he fell on his face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.'”
In this moment, Jesus teaches us the importance of honest, heartfelt prayer. He pours out His heart to God, acknowledging His sorrow and fear, but ultimately submits His will to the Father. Notice how Jesus prays three times, showing us the importance of persistence in prayer, even when the answer is not what we hoped for.
Jesus also models vulnerability in prayer. He does not hide His emotions from God but brings His full heart before Him. This teaches us that we can be open and honest with God in prayer, expressing our true feelings, and trusting that He hears us.
3. Jesus’ Regular Solitary Prayers - Mark 1:35
Finally, we see that Jesus made prayer a regular practice in His life. In Mark 1:35, we read:
"And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed."
Here, Jesus demonstrates the need for solitude and intentional time with the Father. Jesus knew that He needed to spend time in prayer to maintain His connection with God, to find strength, and to renew His purpose. Even when His days were full, He made prayer a priority.
Friends, we can learn so much from Jesus’ commitment to prayer. Jesus teaches us to:
Pray with reverence and submission to God’s will.
Be persistent in prayer, even in times of struggle or unanswered prayers.
Set aside time for regular, quiet prayer, to listen to God and be renewed in our purpose.
Reflection & Prayer Challenge
As we reflect on these examples, I want to challenge you tonight to adopt some of these practices in your own life. Take a few moments now to think about your own prayer life:
Are you approaching God as your loving Father, or do you struggle to see Him that way?
Do you submit your will to God’s, especially when His plan feels difficult?
Do you set aside regular time to pray, or is it something you fit in when it’s convenient?
As we close, let’s pray for strength to follow Jesus' example of prayer in our own lives:
Father, thank You for the perfect example of prayer that Jesus gave us. Help us to pray with reverence, submission, and persistence, just as He did. Strengthen us to set aside time for solitary prayer and to bring our hearts before You honestly. We ask for Your guidance to align our will with Yours, and for the courage to pray in every circumstance, trusting that You hear us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
May you go to bed tonight with peace, knowing that God is listening to your prayers and that He is always near. Have a blessed night!
