Pray as Jesus prayed

 

The Lord has brought so much to my attention concerning prayer that I’ve been emotional as well as uncertain when I talk to Him. At times, just knowing His presence seems enough. He is sovereignly working out His purposes in this world, even using the evil for good (How can that be?) And hearing every thought, not just those spoken. He has shown me that He reaches people according to each one’s situation and nature, that He knows their hearts and where they are on their spiritual journey. I’m ignorant of all that, unless He reveals it to me. How then do I pray for others?

This morning, God directs me to how Jesus prayed. His prayer is longer, but these verses tell me more about communication with Him:

I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (John 17:14–23)

His Word alone is filled with prayer instruction, not only the outline given in what we call “The Lord’s prayer” but the cry of His people is recorded from Genesis to Revelation. My prayer life is not always following those examples or using what the saints of old said to help me with what to say.

Because the world hates Christians, that also is instruction for prayer, not to ask that unsaved people love me, but ask that my life is so filled with the Spirit of God that I fall into that category. I must not let the ideas of the world stop me from prayer or influence the way I pray either.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15–17)

 Fleshy desires could include prayers asking for personal comfort, for a new car, for that dress in the store window, for recognition, all sorts of ego boosters. With Jesus in my heart and oneness with Him, I recognize selfish I-wants when they pop up. Godly praying confesses such desires rather than asking God for them.

Sanctified by truth means reading it and praying it. Praying that I be set apart to serve Jesus and tell others about Him is also part of what Jesus asked for me. If I am one with Him, then my priorities in prayer need to fit with His priorities. He wanted the world to believe that God the Father sent God the Son to love them and to die for them. That is a high priority on His prayer list and should be on mine.

He prayed about giving me the glory that God gave Him — so people would know the truth. Praying that I live out that glory and not hide it out of fear because those who see it hate it. I don’t want them to hate me also but it can happen. So I need to pray for boldness and a deep desire to glorify Jesus and not myself.

PRAY: This prayer You prayed is filled with instruction on how to pray. I am not You, but am one with You and what better way to show it than praying for myself and for others as You prayed for us… so I will. Amen.