At this time of year, with Thanksgiving Day approaching we turn our hearts and minds to expressing thankfulness for our many blessings. At least that's what we should be doing.
We do it through prayer to God. Gathered around a festive table filled with turkey and all the trimmings, families will join hands, bow heads and father, grandfather or an honored guest will offer words of thanks for the feast spread before them. That’s a nice way for a family to start the Thanksgiving Day meal. But there is so much more to prayer and the power it can have in our lives.
Prayer is the key to connecting with the heart of God. Prayer is the only way to a real and sustaining personal relationship with God. Since “relationship” is the critical factor here, prayer should be a significant part of our lives, not just an occasional event of thankfulness at holiday celebrations.
There are abundant references to prayer in the Bible. There is nothing we can’t pray about. The Bible tells us to “pray without ceasing” and “in everything give thanks to the Lord.” When we choose to have a positive attitude about our relationship with God, we begin to realize we have received many rich blessings for which to give God thankful praise.
We find intimacy with God through communicating with Him in prayer. We learn about Him, His purposes and will by reading His Word, the Bible. We go to Him in faith, knowing that He hears and answers all our prayers (1 John 5:14). Be confident that God knows and wants what is best for you... so ask that His will be done in all you seek from Him. Then, thank Him for it, even though it hasn’t happened yet.
Even though we have these assurances from scripture about prayer, many of us are still unclear as to the kinds of things we should be praying about. Hence our reluctance to pray regularly. A very good starting point in learning to pray in the way that God desires, is to examine the prayer life of Jesus while on earth. There is no better model for us to emulate than His example of purpose and the content in His prayers.
If you read just a few of the events and times that the Bible describes Jesus praying to His Father in Heaven, a discernible pattern of content emerges.
Jesus prayed for guidance in places of quiet solitude... “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” (Mark 1:35)
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16).
Jesus prayed for His disciples and for all believers... “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name-the name you gave me-so that they may be one as we are one” (John 17:11).
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:20-21).
Jesus prayed in praise to God, the Father... “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, ‘I praise you, Father, lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure’” (Luke 10:21).
Jesus prayed prayers of thanksgiving... “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take it; this is my body’” (Mark 14:22).
Jesus prayed in a posture and with an attitude of reverent submission... “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will’” (Matthew 26:39).
Jesus prayed in times of anguish... “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44).
Jesus prayed nearing the end of life... “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Matthew 27:46).
Another example of how Jesus prayed is found in “The Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6:5-15. This is the time when Jesus taught the disciples how to pray. In this simple prayer, Jesus taught us a very important element that must be in our prayers.
We are to pray that “God’s will be done on earth” as it is being done in heaven. In this way, we are focused on all the various things that advance God’s will and purpose, including the second coming of Christ. For with His return, comes the “will of God” finally being done on the earth.
Jesus loved His Father and communicated with Him often. He prayed for wisdom and guidance in His earthly ministry. He prayed for others to come to know Him as Savior and Lord. He prayed for the twelve disciples, that God would protect them from “the evil one.” Jesus prayed for God to strengthen their ministry once He departed from them. He prayed with honesty and reverence. He prayed with joy.
But most of all, Jesus prayed with expectation. He knew the Father heard His prayers and would respond.
Jesus prayed for things that advanced the “Will of the Father,” glorified His name and for the needs, care and keeping of those immersed in doing the work set before them by the Father. He prayed for things of great importance to God.
This should be our goal as believers... Pray that we are in the midst of His Will, doing good works in Kingdom service, growing in wisdom and holiness... always praying as Jesus prayed... for the things important to God.
Think about these things as you pray to God. What in your life is important to you and what of those things are fully synchronized with the Will of God? Those things in harmony with Him, are the things important to Almighty God... the things He blesses.
