FOLLOWING JESUS STEPS (HIS PRAYER LIVE)

His prayer life style.

Jesus was a revolutionary. His prayer life was revolution different from the prayer of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

i)                    Discover his attitude to prayer. Lk 11:1-2; Matt 6:5-6; Jn 11: 41-42

For our lord Jesus Christ, prayer is a must in life. It is the connecting life wire between father and son through which worship, request, blessing, and answer to life needs flow. That was why He instructed His disciples saying ‘when you pray…’ and not ‘if you pray…’ the first indicate that it is necessary to pray, while the second indicates probability, a liberty to choose whether to pray or not.

We also see Jesus thanking God (in Jn 11: 41-42) that He hear Him always. That also indicates that the prayer was a regular feature in His life. It was more important than food and sleep. If we must walk in His steps and become like Him, there is need for us to develop His kind of attitude to prayer. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…

ii) He prayed more in the secret, alone with God than in public. Mk. 1: 35; Lk 5:15-16;

Matt. 6: 6-8.

As busy as the Lord Jesus was, He never forgot to withdraw Himself from His Disciples and multitudes seeking His help in order to go into a lonely place to pray.

What can you learn from this and what changes must you make in order for your prayer life to bee conformed to his?

iii) He prayed at any time of the day. Mk. 1:35; Lk. 6:12; Jn. 12:25-29; Jn. 11:41-42.

Jesus prayed very early in the morning, a great while before day; He prayed all Night, He prayed in the day time. There was no time he could not pray and is no time God cannot listen an answer us. From your own experience is there any time you cannot pray? For every one who desires to follow Jesus, every manner of life contrary to that the Lord must give way in order for proper learning to walk in His step to take place.

iv)  He in prayed all situations. Lk. 6:12-15; Matt. 27: 46; Jn. 12:25-29; Lk. 11:1-13.

There is no matter or situation to small or to big for Jesus to pray about. He knew his limitation as a man; so He prayed all night to God who knows all men, before he chose his disciples. He prayed after performing miracles. He did not allow success to enter his head (make Him proud) and hinder Him from praying dependently on God.

He prayed before facing that cruel cross; He prayed while on the cross. And He taught us to pray for everything in every situation.

There are people who believe in their own common sense and wisdom so that they don’t see why they should pray ‘little’ things that they can use their common sense to decide and do. But you must not forget that our human sense has been corrupted by the fruit of tree of knowledge of good and evil eaten by Adam and Eve. As many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

How much do you measure on the scale of Jesus prayer life?

v)  He prayed for his disciples and His enemies. Jn. 17:1-3; Lk. 23:34.

Your children, wife/husband, colleagues, neighbours, disciples and all does you relate with, must be objects of your prayer. Even those who oppose you and appear as your enemies pray for them. Jesus did it. Don’t keep quiet. Pray. You would have been walking in his steps by so doing.

vi)  He taught them to pray. Matt. 6:5-8, Lk. 11:1-2

Apart from praying Jesus taught us to pray. You should not only pray but teach people to pray. We must walk his steps.

You have an opportunity to check your life as you look into the life of Christ through the divine mirror (the word of God), see the difference and make corrections in your life. You will be blessed in your deeds.