Why and how Jesus prayed

Third of a 5-part teaching series

by Barbara Lukow

Many Christians, although they understand and cherish their relationship with God, often wonder if His plan for prayer has a specific purpose and process.

Christ’s words and actions provide some answers to those questions, and you can learn much about His teachings and examples by searching the gospels…especially Luke’s writings. Considered a devotional gospel, Luke emphasizes prayer and includes three parables on the subject, as well as many references that demonstrate why and how Jesus prayed.

Why pray?

The Savior revealed numerous reasons for praying. The passages below can help you determine some of God’s purposes for prayer.

God wants you to seek Him so He can bless you.

• Jesus promises the Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13).
• God promises that he who asks, receives; he who seeks will find; and to him who knocks the door will be opened (Matthew 7:7-11).
• Jesus also promised that God provides for the needs of those who seek His kingdom (Luke 12:22-34).
• Jesus promised rest for the souls of those who come to Him (Matthew 11:28-30).

Christ’s actions reveal the need to pray diligently for wisdom and strength before and during times of temptation and stress.

• Jesus would often “withdraw to desolate places and pray” when great crowds gathered to hear Him and be healed (Luke 5:16).
• The night before He chose the disciples, the Lord spent the night praying (Luke 6:12-13).
• In the Garden of Gethsemane, the Savior prayed in anguish. Luke reports that Christ’s sweat became like large drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:44). Note that Jesus asked for God’s will, not His own, during this time of great testing. He also entreated His disciples to “pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:40) See also Luke 22:46; Matthew 6:13; Matthew 26:41.

The Lord modeled intercession and He wants you to pray for others.

• Jesus taught God’s children to pray for their enemies: “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”(Matthew 5:44) See also Luke 6:27-28.
• Later, on the cross, the Savior set the supreme example of intercession: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
• Christ prayed for His disciples and all who would believe through their message (John 17:6-26).
• He asked the disciples to “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:38)
• Foretelling Peter’s denial, the Savior said, “But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32) Notice Jesus doesn’t doubt Peter’s return to the faith, and He expects Peter to strengthen the others when it happens. Can what you learn from your mistakes strengthen others?

How should Christians pray?

Although there are many ways to pray, the Lord gave (and demonstrated) several “pointers.” Let the following passages help you develop stronger prayer habits.

1. A quiet environment enhances prayer.

Christ retreated to quiet places to be alone with the Father: He went into the hills (Luke 6:12), withdrew to desolate places (Luke 5:16) and went a distance from His disciples (Matthew 26:36-46) when He prayed. Jesus also taught the disciples to go to their room, shut the door, and pray to the Father in secret (Matthew 6:6).

2. Pray with persistence.

Christ taught His disciples to pray and not give up (Luke 11:5-10; Luke 18:1-8). The Savior prayed all night (Luke 6:12), early in the morning (Mark 1:35), and while the disciples slept (Matthew 26:40).

3. Pray with faith, forgiveness and humility.

Jesus taught about praying in faith (Mark 11:22-25), forgiving and asking for forgiveness (Matthew 6:12; Matthew 18:21-35) and praying with humility (Luke 18:9-14).

Friend in Christ, God wants you to come to Him so He can bless you. He wants to impart strength and wisdom through the Spirit as you face earthly trials, and He wants to perform mighty works through your requests in Christ’s name. Come, then; pray with persistence and humility, expecting God to work mightily in your life, in the lives of others, and specifically in the lives of your country’s leaders.

Barbara Lukow is a new writer to the Presidential Prayer Team. She is a retired educator, mother, grandmother, and farm wife. She writes short stories, poetry, articles, devotions and novels. Barbara lives with her husband, James, on a small farm in northwest New Mexico.