Pray, Pray and Pray Again

May 21

Luke 3:21
Matthew 14:23
Mark 6:46
Luke 6:12
John 11:1-4
Mark 1:35
Luke 5:16
Matthew 26:36
Matthew 26:39
Matthew 26:42
Matthew 26:44
Luke 11:1
John 17:1-26
Matthew 6:5-15

What do all these verses have in common? Any guesses without looking them up?

They give us a beautiful picture of how, why, when and where Jesus prayed. I have always found it fascinating, the Son of God displayed such a vibrant prayer life during His time on Earth. If God in flesh felt it necessary to pray often, how much more should we duplicate His actions?

It is challenging at times to slow down and connect with the Creator of the universe, but it is a vital part of our faith walk to remain strong in the Lord. Let’s break this down a little deeper and discuss the benefits.

Prayer Is Rejuvenating

Often throughout scripture, we learn that Jesus removed Himself from the crowds so He could be secluded. Every time we see Him isolating from others, it was to pray and connect with the Father. Anyone who has worked in ministry, knows it is draining. Men, women, children, teens, college, singles, married, seniors… on and on with different connection groups most churches offer; and while it is rewarding to serve, it can be very depleting on our energy, especially spiritually.

We read in Matthew 14:23, Mark 6:46 and Luke 6:12 of moments where Christ slipped away to be alone with His Abba Father in prayer. Those scriptures are not an exhaustive list either. There are many other passages we can cite that give us the same example; one we should be following.

Maybe you are not actively serving in your local church, so you feel this does not apply to you. Do not be fooled, dear friends. What about those mommas raising babies? Adult children who are assisting with ailing parents? Fathers who are working overtime to provide for their families? There are many areas of our lives where we can feel stretched thin. Connection with Christ in a quiet space, will help to reshape us and fill us with much needed energy to keep moving.

Be intentional about having a private area where you can meet with Jesus daily. This doesn’t have to be elaborate. Don’t get me wrong, I love a well, designed prayer closet; but you may be in a season of your life where the driver seat of the mini van is your spot, because the baby is finally asleep, and you have 15 mins before you grab the other kiddos from school.

Don’t make it overly complicated, just make it happen.

Prayer Is Intercession

John 17:1-26 gives us the longest, documented prayer from Jesus; and it was for His disciples and us. We have a powerful weapon at our disposal every time we bow our head or knee. Crying out to God the Father on behalf of someone you care for, is a privilege; and the greatest act of love we could display.

Think of all the lives that have been changed because someone prayed. I know before I surrendered to the Lord, my mother and nana prayed for me daily. If you have given your life to Jesus, I am confident someone was praying for you too.

I am also confident, you know a friend, family member, neighbor or other who would benefit from a covering of prayer. We all know life is difficult. What a beautiful gift to give, when we speak to the Almighty regarding our loved one’s burdens, sorrows and struggles. Perhaps physical aliments are in need of healing. Fear needs to be pushed back to allow the Prince of Peace to rush in. Whatever is troublesome to those you love, we have the ability to present that to Christ and ask for assistance, guidance, comfort, wisdom; anything they may need.

I find great joy in praying for others. It helps keep me out of my headspace and is a wonderful practice of selflessness. (Which I need all the practice I can get, since this flesh prefers me, myself and I)

I also take comfort in knowing our Lord is still interceding for us while He is in heaven. Romans 8:34 states, “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died- more than that, who was raised- who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

So, dear friends- How can I pray for you today?

Prayer is Connection

When the disciples asked Jesus in John chapter 11 verse 1 to teach them how to pray, I believe it was because they saw something in His prayer life they wanted; the connection the Son had with the Father.

I am reminded of the movie The War Room. The character Miss Clara, is a powerhouse of a woman, who when she prays, you just know heaven is listening. I would wager, many of you know a Miss Clara in your life and wish you had that type of direct line to God yourself.

Here is the secret friends… the more you pray and speak to Him, the more He will reveal Himself to you, the better you will get to know Him and the closer you become. Any relationship develops deeper with time. The more you seek His face, the more He will show you.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

Our God is not hidden. He longs for us to search, learn and gain understanding into Who He is. He is fascinating and unlike any person you will ever meet.

Something incredibly beautiful also happens, the more your knowledge of God’s character grows. You begin to see yourself as Christ sees you. Your confidence increases in the Word, lies are replaced with Truth and strongholds are broken off. When the devil comes at you, strength has developed, because you know to the core of your soul, who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for you.

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

There is nothing freer than looking right into the face of darkness and proclaiming boldly, “You know who my Father is, right?”

Prayer is Contention

Undeniably, one of the most famous prayers of Jesus is found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke; the anguish outcry in the garden of Gethsemane. Our Lord knew His time had come, as the cross loomed before Him. We are privileged to see the Son of God, wrestling with the Father, over the path Jesus knew He must walk.

God is big enough to handle the tough conversations. I believe, unknowingly, pastors and teachers have done a disservice to the church body, by not teaching how to contend well with the Lord. Yes, just as Jesus proclaimed, ultimately His will always to be done, but prior to the surrender- Jesus questioned.

I learned this in my own faith journey many years ago. The Lord had called our family to walk a road I was extremely reluctant to travel down. Feeling as if I did not have the right to express my frustration to the Lord or question His direction, I continued on for weeks, just smiling and pretending to agree with the upcoming events.

In those weeks, I kept hearing the word honesty. In my bible study, books I was reading, sermons… it was everywhere; until one day, while home alone and praying, I heard it again- “Be honest.” Well, friends, I snapped, literally. Looking upward, I screamed at my ceiling,

“FINE! You want me to be honest, I’ll be honest.” I proceeded to vent all my anger and frustration regarding the next season of life the Lord was calling me and my family into, and then - peace flooded over me.

Tell God what is on your heart. He already knows what you are feeling and thinking. Ask the questions. Cry out in despair. Allow the emotions to flow freely. It is ok. But, when it is all over and you are spent, bow in submission; knowing He is God and all that He asks can be trusted, and say, “Yet, not my will, but Yours be done.”

Prayer Is Continuous

Most will be familiar with the verse that commands us to pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Jesus modeled this in His three year ministry on this globe, but what does this mean in a practical sense?

While it is important to have your quiet, alone times that are intentional, we should also form the habit of talking to God throughout our daily tasks. Just as you would tell your spouse how your day is going, tell the Lord those same details. Ask Him for guidance regarding a quick decision that needs to be made. Thank Him for an unexpected blessing that just came your way. Be excited to share your victories with your Father or cry about your struggles.

All of this boils down to relationship. Jesus is our friend, treat Him as one. Walk with Him daily. Connect with Him. Tell Him your inner most thoughts and secrets. Grow closer to Him. The more intimate you become with someone, the more you trust them, and with trust, comes safety.

I pray this will encourage some of you to increase your conversations with God. Just in writing this, I too have been challenged to speak to my Savior more consistently. Busy schedules have a way of throwing us off track. Praise God, it’s as simple as speaking a sentence to draw us right back in. Let’s start today, shall we?

Brandy Daugherty