Pray Like Jesus By Pastor Mark DriscollSample

How Did Jesus Pray? Part 2 

Jesus’ earthly life was perfect, which means he alone has the perfect prayer life. Therefore, there is no better way to learn about prayer than learning from the prayer life of Jesus. 

Jesus prayed long prayers

He didn’t necessarily pray long prayers publicly, but Jesus spent lengthy amounts of time privately in prayer with the Father. Luke 6:12 gives us one example: “In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.”

In the heat of spiritual battle, Jesus went the distance. He prayed all night long. He was facing the decision over which men to pick as his disciples. That’s serious business.

Many (perhaps most) times you should pray succinctly, but there are many times when the best thing you or I can do is get alone and go the distance in prayer. If you’re facing a crisis or the imminence of a major life decision, I encourage you to get lots of time alone in prayer.

Before I married my wife Grace, I prayed long and hard. Before we have made major decisions about life and ministry, we have both prayed a ton both together and alone. In these times God helps us to process our thoughts, focus our desires, and come to clarity on his will for our lives so that we can move together confidently.  

Jesus prayed thankful prayers

Perhaps the most common prayer Jesus prayed was a prayer of thanks. If you are interested in learning how to pray like Jesus, I can think of no better prayer habit for you to begin with than to, as Paul instructs in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, give thanks in all circumstances.

Here is one example from Jesus’ prayer life, found in Matthew 11:25-26: "At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”

In this instance, Jesus is succinctly yet deeply thanking the Father for his gracious revelation of himself to us. It is a worshipful prayer, a theological prayer, and an insightful prayer, but it is first and foremost, a thankful prayer. 

Do you want to begin building momentum in your prayer life? Perhaps you ought to begin by asking yourself, “What should I thank God for?” The answers to that question are endless, so get started and don’t stop. 

When you do that – as you do that – it builds inside of you hope and anticipation and expectation. It will make you a God-seeker and a grace-giver. It will open your heart to be searching for reasons to thank God and open your heart with joy for his many provisions. Thankful people are prayerful people. 

Jesus prayed with his dying breath

In Luke 23:46, we read, “Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last.” Jesus’ final prayer at the moment of death was an incredible declaration of submission to the Father. In this moment, Jesus devotes his dying breath to the glory of God.

My prayer you and for myself is that, as the culmination of a life lived in honor of God, we will honor God with our last breaths. May the name of the Lord be on our lips in the last words we speak. Not in cursing and not in bargaining, but in submission to the Father’s will and in praise of his glorious grace. To prepare for that day, we need to be in prayer every day since we truly do not know when our last day will be. 

Reflection:

1. Make it point to pray a short prayer every time something happens today for which you are thankful. See if this does not improve your attitude and also build momentum in your prayer life as you continue this habit in the days and months ahead. 

2. Is there anything painful or fearful in your life right now that you need to spend extended time with God in prayer for, to work through with deep emotional processing? If so, when and how will you carve out this important time to meet with God?