Praying with Jesus
This week we will look at how Jesus prayed, what he did, and what we can learn.
One thing that we don’t always realise is that Jesus was emotional – he wept at the death of Lazarus and over the destruction he could foresee for Jerusalem.
He was angry with the hypocritical leaders who claimed a religiosity but actually oppressed others; he was outraged by the way the Temple authorities made money out of sacrifices.
He was frustrated with his disciples, and expressed that frustration
We sense he was deeply fearful in Gethsemane as he pondered what would happen, and the cost to him.
Jesus is no anaemic ‘saintly’ unreal person, but flesh and blood. Maybe we can learn to express ourselves with our emotions in our prayers, not just with words.
We will also see that Jesus deliberately chose to make space to pray alone, made space in a busy.
Jesus taught his disciples by his example but also with a simple prayer made up of an address to God and several petitions covering a range of things. We can learn from that simplicity.
Because at the heart of Jesus’ praying is a deep relationship with God the Father, a sure knowledge, and a solid security. As we pray we can seek that deeper relationship and in praying we will begin to find it.
So this week we will look at and have a go at praying a bit more like Jesus! Who better to learn from?
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Look at the Lord’s Prayer
Here it is in the modern version. Take a phrase each day and think what it means for us. How would we put it in our words and what does it include.
| Monday
Our Father in heaven Hallowed be your Name |
What does it mean to say God is in heaven?
What does ‘hallowed’ mean? What does it mean to know we can call God our parent? |
| Tuesday
Your Kingdom come, your will be done On earth as it is in heaven |
What would we like to see of God’s Kingdom here?
How can we also help make it happen? |
| Wednesday
Give us this day our daily bread |
What are our daily needs?
Do we thank God for all we have?
What can we do to help those who don’t have enough? |
| Thursday
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us |
This is hard.
How do we learn to say ‘Sorry’? How do we discover God has forgiven us? |
| Friday
Lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil |
‘Temptation’ probably means a time of persecution and ‘testing’ which many Christians do face.
‘Evil’ is about suffering inflicted on others How fortunate are we. |
As we think about this prayer day by day, let’s pray it each day and discover what it means