Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowds. When he sent them away, he went up onto a mountain by himself to pray. – Matt. 14:22-23
When reading the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry, one of the patterns that begins to emerge is Jesus’ commitment to prayer. He does not just tell people to pray. He does it, too. Sometimes he goes off by himself. Sometimes he prays with disciples. Sometimes he is praying and no one else around him is praying, even falling asleep!
In the above example of Jesus praying in Matthew, Jesus had just learned of the death of John the Baptist and was seeking to go to a quiet place to pray, but the crowds kept following him. In Matthew’s account, this is when Jesus stops his quest to go away for prayer and feeds more than five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. Still, after he finishes teaching and feeding, he returns to his commitment to pray.
We see Jesus praying many other times as well. We see him returning thanks for food and offering prayers of joy for wisdom revealed. We see him praying at the tomb of Lazarus and we see Jesus teaching the disciples about prayer. Jesus prays for all believers in John. He prays in the garden before his crucifixion and finally Jesus prays from the cross.
From Jesus’ prayers we see Jesus’ connection to the Father, and that he draws strength from that connection. We do, too. We see Jesus’ prayers prepare him to welcome the demands of the work in Luke 9. It was after his drawing away that he went on to teach and heal. It was his prayer that helped prepare him to serve. We see from Jesus’ prayers that our connection to God is not just about us and God; it is also about others. Jesus prays for others. To be connected to God is has love and concern for others is woven into the fabric of our connection.
And remember when Jesus was baptized? He was praying then, too. And out of that prayer came a response from the heavens. Prayer is a reciprocal connection. God not only hears our prayers, but God answers prayers, too. (Not always the way we want or in ways that we perceive, but that is a whole other lesson).
We all know that real, true, deep relationships of any kind require investments of time. Yes, we have friends who we can only see every blue moon and we pick up where we left off. And if that is the kind of relationship we want with God, God tends to be there for us like that, too. But God also beckons us and desires a deeper relationship. God wants the kind of time, energy and investment that you would put into the most important and healthy relationships in your life. This Lent, I would urge you to give consideration to how prayer is a part of your life, and in what way can you tend this spiritual practice to intentionally grow in your prayer life.
In 1 Thessalonians, Paul urges us “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”. I can testify to you that there is no limit to your capacity to grow in your prayer life. The more you do it, the more you bring God’s love into the forefront of your mind, healing the things that wound you the most. The more you continuously pray, it can become almost like a running conversation, and the presence of God feels much closer and the sense of being “on a daily walk” becomes stronger.
It does not matter how strong your faith is when you begin this practice it. With time, the Spirit will give you strength and faith. It does not matter if your prayers are articulate or beautiful. The work you put in is your part. God is what makes them beautiful. And, when you have feelings that are just too big for words, that is ok, too. Paul teaches us in Romans that “the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes* with sighs too deep for words.”
I hope this word comes to you as encouragement. It is not to make those who struggle to pray feel guilty and it is not to make those who pray often to feel too good about themselves. It is simply encouragement to go to God in prayer. I have often heard Karen tell people that” the right way to pray is whatever way asks for you.” So, you do you. Go to God as you can. And I promise God will meet you there (eventually, and in God’s own time…but that is another lesson all together).
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Rob
PS: This article was inspired by the articles found in the Common English Bible for Daily Prayer. I highly recommend it for those who would like to have a Bible that encourages them to pray regularly. You can find it online here: https://amzn.to/3F6GL2a
Scriptures Referenced, in order of appearance: John 6:11, Luke 10:21, John 11:41-43, Matthew 6:7-8, John 17:1, 6-11, John 12:27-28, Mark 14:36, Luke 23:34, Matthew 27:46 ref. Psalm 22:1, Luke 23:46, John 19:30, Luke 9:11, 1 Thes. 5:16-18, Romans 8:26
