Lord, Teach Us to Pray
How to Be Great for the Kingdom
Do you want to be great for the kingdom of God? Then emulate what the great leaders in church history, including Jesus, devoted themselves to: prayer.
I believe that the apostles often encouraged the people to pray unceasingly (1 Thessalonians 5:17), faithfully (Romans 12:12) and devotedly (Colossians 4:2) because Jesus Himself did. Think about it: what was the one thing Jesus' disciples asked Him how to do? It wasn't how to be a more effective speaker, or Scripture memory techniques, or His morning routine. It was how to pray.
And why would they ask Him how to pray? Is it not because they see Him constantly praying to His Father?
Jesus’ Example
"When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, and said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation."" (Luke 22:45-46)
Many of us sleep when we're sorrowful, but Jesus prays. God prays. Our battle is against the unseen. Though it might seem pointless to pray when other battles demand the acquisition of military technology, we, Christians, are to pray. No special weapon. No unique offering or sacrifice. Simply the humility and vulnerability of admitting our weakness, our helplessness, and asking God to keep us. To hold us fast.
Are you in dire need of redemption? Pray. It is not I who implores you, but the Lord Himself.
The Key to Soul-Satisfying Intimacy
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." (Ephesians 6:18)
If you want Jesus to be your best Friend, think about how you are with your best friend. Do you talk almost constantly, about literally everything? Then no wonder you must be very close.
Jesus desires to have that close fellowship with us too. Talk to Him. Pray to Him all the time. Yes, all the time, about all things. Tell Him how cute your dog is, how hot it is, thank Him for the water coming out of the faucet. Everything.
From the small to the big things, pray. It's wonderful how our communication with God isn't dependent on wifi or cell data like our human relationships. Do you see? Do you see how wonderful it is?
Pray constantly. That's no exaggeration.
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We are vessels made to be occupied by one thing only. We can deny self and choose Christ, or deny Christ and choose self. It will always be one or the other.