How Did Jesus Pray? - Part 1 by Mark Driscoll

Pray Like Jesus By Pastor Mark Driscoll

Day 19 of 21 How Did Jesus Pray? - Part 1 Now that we've examined Jesus' prayers and Jesus' teaching on prayer for the most essential qualities and content of our own prayers, it should be helpful to look at a few more of Jesus' prayers. How did Jesus pray? What kind of prayers did he pray? Jesus prayed alone This is very, very important to the Christian life. Jesus prayed publicly in large and small groups, but he also prayed privately. Mark 6:46 tells us, "And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray." Luke 9:18 informs us that "… he was praying alone…" Sometimes being in the public for extended periods of time actually prompted Jesus to get away for a time, as in Luke 5:15-16: "But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray." Thousands are coming out to hear Jesus preach and teach, miracles are happening, healings are taking place. His ministry is powerful and therefore demanding. And he needed to get away for a bit to recharge and refresh.  He needed that. And you need that. I think sometimes we forget what it's like to be alone with God because even when we are by ourselves, the noise of technology is drowning out our senses. The computer's on, the TV's on, the phone's on. We don't even know what silence sounds like any more. For me, I like to pray while I'm moving as I find my mind is clearer. So, I will go for a hike or take a drive in my Jeep with the top off and just talk to God aloud. Or, you can redeem your commute to or from work by turning off your technology and talking to God. Most of us need to withdraw more frequently than we do to have a private meeting with God in prayer. I know that I have never taken this time and regretted it afterward.  Jesus prayed God's Word  Here is one stunning example from Mark 15:34: "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?'"This lament is a direct quote from Psalm 22:1 and means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus in this instance is making the written revelation of God the verbal revelation of his prayer. This is a biblically shaped prayer life. Bible study go together like two oars in a boat. In prayer we speak to God, and in Scripture God speaks to us. Pray before you start reading. Pray as you're reading, thanking God for his Word and asking God to illuminate its meaning more brightly to you. Pray when you're done reading, and ask God to help you apply what you've read to your daily life. Read and pray, read and pray, read and pray. Come in prayer to Scripture. When you read something convicting, stop and pray in repentance. When something impresses you, stop and praise God. When something reminds you of someone else, stop and pray for them. The goal is not to just read through Scripture quickly to "get it over with," but to make reading Scripture an act of worship, an act of prayer. You may not get through passages quickly, but those passages will stick with you. And you'll enjoy your time in study more, because it will be shaping you in ways you can't imagine. And if your prayer life is guided by Scripture, then you'll also know you will be praying in God's will. Are you a regular Bible reader? If not, today is good day to find a Bible reading plan of some sort on Bible.com. As you read the Bible each day, stop to pray about what you read (e.g. for clear understanding, forgiveness, thanksgiving, other people, a practical need, etc.).  Mark 6:46 NASB 46 After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray. Luke 5:15-16 NASB 15 But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. Mark 15:34 NASB 34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "E loi , E loi , lama sabachthani ?" which is translated, "M y G od , M y G od , why have Y ou forsaken M e ?" Psalms 22:1 NASB 1 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.