Praying like Jesus
Opening Prayer
Lord, teach me how to pray the very prayers of heaven, not bringing my thoughts, but knowing Your heart.
Read Mark 1:35–39
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
[35] Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. [36] Simon and his companions went to look for him, [37] and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” [38] Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else-to the nearby villages-so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” [39] So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
When did Jesus pray?Wouldn’t you love to know more about Jesus’ prayer life? We read a number of times that he prayed by himself (eg 35; 6:46; Luke 6:12), often early in the morning or late at night. And in response to his apprentices’ question, he reveals the pattern of prayer that presumably he followed himself, unless there’s one way for him to pray and another for them! Jesus has had what seems to have been a really successful evening of ministry (32–34) and his disciples look for him so that this ministry might continue. But Jesus takes his ministry off in a new direction, in response to a clear understanding of his call (38). Presumably during his prayer time he has been praying “may your kingdom come” and, like we hear him pray in Gethsemane (Mark 14:32–36), “may your will be done”, alongside “give us this day our daily bread” and “lead us not into temptation”. If Jesus spends time with God clarifying what it is that God wants him to do, maybe we need to do the same, don’t you think?
Apply
Use the words of Psalm 139:23,24 to form the basis of your prayer to God today.
Closing prayer
Father, above all I come into Your presence to know You and Jesus whom You sent.
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