Prioritize Prayer: Following the Example of Our Lord Jesus

Bunyon once wrote: “You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.” Ah, so very true! Most of us get to the ends of our ropes and as a last resort we cry out in prayer. Prayer is to be our first resort not our last. It is one of God’s greatest blessings as He is always attentive to the prayers of His saints – His eye is ever on them for their good. Peter quotes from Psalm 34:15 (NIV) when he writes in 1 Peter 3:12 (NIV): “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 

As we draw near to God in prayer, we simply need only whisper His Name as He is just a breath away – leaning His ear to hear our cries for mercy, for help - His ears being attentive even to our sighs and groans. It is only self-sufficiency that kills prayer. The realization that apart from Christ we can do nothing is necessary. Indeed, it has been said that God’s address is at the end of our ropes. Prayer is an honest expression of dependance. And He loves to hear the fullness of a thankful and grateful heart from His child as it demonstrates our appreciation for all He has done – things too hard for us to accomplish. It is uber easy to ask Him for much yet we often forget to thank Him for the answers, Amen? This, too, is of great importance in the life of His heirs of mercy as God loves a thankful heart and a grateful spirit.   

Prayer was always Jesus’ way. In the Gospels we are constantly finding our Lord praying. He prayed in solitude and with others – praying both in the midst of crowds as well as alone. His prayers were both spontaneous as well as a daily pattern. His life was indeed a walking prayer life. What we know for certain is that prayer for our Lord was not only a top priority, as He consistently demonstrated it in His life, but also a joy of communing with His Father. If our Lord Jesus found time to be with the Father in private prayer, how much more so should we? He modeled prayer prior to action as prayer is the fuel that runs the action. We often want to run ahead and start the deed sans the prayer that empowers it - going forth in our own strength and ingenuity which is really no strength at all.       

God desires for us to get alone with Him – walking and talking with Him in the cool of the day – morning and evening, just as He did with our original parents. He is indeed, a “with us” God. He delights in our company as we do our own children. And He is never more than a breath away. Prayer is also an invitation for us to know God better – being still before Him and waiting patiently for Him. He quiets our hearts, He forgives our iniquities and gives us a firm place to stand, filling us with hope.