Pray Like Christ / David Jeremiah

 

Pray Like Christ And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. Matthew 14:23    It has been said, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” But that’s only half the quote. The complete thought gives us even more to think about: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” Everyone—athletes, artists, musicians, parents, preachers—are “mediocre” before they are “great.” When starting out in any new endeavor, we all look to imitate those who have gone before us. Even when we don’t understand “why,” we imitate the “how” in the beginning.

Recommended Reading: Luke 11: 2 – 4

Could we apply the principle of imitation to the spiritual life? Take prayer, for example. All Christians, whether young or old, should imitate Jesus when it comes to prayer. The Gospels give us many examples of Jesus withdrawing alone to pray, sometimes all night. He also turned to intense prayer at critical moments like on the night of His arrest and impending crucifixion. If Jesus, the Son of God, was committed to prayer, perhaps we should be as well. The apostle Paul imitated Christ and admonished us to do so too (1 Corinthians 11:1). Prayer is the key of heaven, faith is the hand that turns it. Thomas Watson