The Walk of Prayer

Human beings are communicating constantly!  We communicate with parents, siblings, friends, neighbors, teachers, even random strangers, etc.  Except when we are on our phones, we are constantly communicating with others in relationship.  We communicate by asking lots of questions . . . How are you doing? What are you doing this weekend?  We communicate lots of emotions . . . uugggh, happiness, sadness, excitement, frustration, anger, confusion, disappointment.  Every once in a while we will even communicate something thoughtful like . . . I love you.  I miss you.  Great job!  I’m sorry.  Jesus’ whole life revolved around relationship.  There is one particular relationship that Jesus made a priority of communicating with.  Who did Jesus regularly take time to communicate with?

READ:  Luke 5:16; Mark 1:35

Living life in the same way as Jesus did requires communicating with GOD through PRAYER!  The gospels record 33 different times when Jesus communicates with God through prayer.  Christ began His ministry in prayer (Lk. 3:21) and His life ended in prayer (Mk. 15:34-39).  Jesus prayed all night before calling the 12 disciples (Lk. 6:12).  After intense moments or days of ministry Jesus prayed (Mt. 14:23).  The night before Jesus went to the cross He prayed (Mt. 26:36; Mk. 14:23; Lk. 21:41-44).  Prayer was Jesus’ way of renewing His energy and determining His next step.  The more demanding Jesus’ life became, the more He prayed.  Prayer was central to who Jesus was and central to His being fully human.

TRANSTION:  Jesus Himself prayed frequently and He told His disciples the importance of praying as well.  In Matthew 21:22 Jesus said, “whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”  In Matthew 7:7-11 He said, “ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened to you”.  Jesus’ disciples knew that communicating with God was important to Jesus, that’s why they did not ask Jesus to teach them how to do miracles or how to preach, but instead they asked Jesus to teach them to pray.  How did Jesus instruct us to pray?

READ:  Luke 11:1-4 (cf Matthew 6:9-13)

PRAISE God (Lk. 11:1) – Prayer is simply an opportunity for personal worship.  Praise is an opportunity to make thoughtful statements to God.  To tell Him you love Him.  To thank Him for his attributes of grace, mercy, and kindness.  A time to express our reverence and awe for who HE is and what He has done in our lives.  Praising God is an opportunity to thank Him for all the things He has done for us from our physical life to our spiritual life.

Ask God, “What the PLAN?” (Mt. 6:10) – Prayer is an opportunity to ask and listen to God for His will for a particular need in your life.  Romans 12:2 says, “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable, and perfect.”  God has a specific “kingdom will” for each and every one of our lives.  He wants His Kingdom to be experienced in and through us.  We should communicate with God concerning any and every decision we make.  There is no aspect of our lives that is too small or too big to not talk and listen to God about.

Ask God for daily PROVISION (Luke 11:3) – Prayer is an opportunity to express our dependence on God for what we need.  Whether we realize it or not anything and everything we possess is a result of God graciously granting it to us.  We don’t need much.  1 Timothy 6:8 says, “if we have good and clothing, with these we will be content.” There is a big difference between what we need and what we want.  Prayer is not like a genie lamp that we ask whatever we wish and “poof”, it happens.  Asking God for daily provision is recognizing that God is the source of everything and we should be in constant dependence on Him for everything.

Tell God we are PENITENT (Luke 11:4) – Prayer is an opportunity to receive and give forgiveness.  To be penitent is to be remorseful or repentant.  1 John 1:9 says, “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  As a Christian, sin continues to be a part of our lives and so repentance is more than a one time event when we come to Christ.  It is continually being aware of our own sin and God’s forgiveness that allows us to have an attitude of forgiveness toward those who sins against us.  Colossians 3:13 says, “forgive each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”  It is talking and listening to God that allows us to be right with God and be right with others.

Ask God for spiritual PROTECTION (Luke 11:4) – Prayer is an opportunity to ask God to help us avoid sin and evil that is constantly pursuing us.  1 Corinthians 10:13 say, “no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and he will not let your be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”  We do not have to give into temptation.  There is not temptation you will ever experience that God won’t give you the strength and courage you need to overcome.

CONCLUSION:
If communicating with God through prayer was a priority in Jesus’ life, then it should be a priority in our lives.  Life is full of demands that challenge our humanity, and just like Jesus, we need to communicate with God in order to gain the energy, strength, and direction we need.  How important of a priority in your life is communicating with God through prayer?