Written by: John Sernaque
Dear Reader,
Books / Pr - Prayer (2002) / Chapter 15—Jesus’ Example in Prayer
If Jesus Needed to Pray While on Earth, How Much More Should We—When Jesus was upon the earth, He taught His disciples how to pray. He directed them to present their daily needs before God, and to cast all their care upon Him. And the assurance He gave them that their petitions should be heard, is assurance also to us. {Pr 168.1 } Jesus Himself, while He dwelt among men, was often in prayer. Our Saviour identified Himself with our needs and weakness, in that He became a suppliant, a petitioner, seeking from His Father fresh supplies of strength, that He might come forth braced for duty and trial. He is our example in all things. He is a brother in our infirmities, “in all points tempted like as we are;” but as the sinless one His nature recoiled from evil; He endured struggles and torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity and a privilege. He found comfort and joy in communion with His Father. And if the Saviour of men, the Son of God, felt the need of prayer, how much more should feeble, sinful mortals feel the necessity of fervent, constant prayer. —(Steps to Christ, 93, 94.) {Pr 168.2} Christ wrestled in earnest prayer; He offered up His supplications to the Father with strong crying and tears in behalf of those for whose salvation He had left heaven and had come to this earth. Then how proper, yea, how essential that men should pray and not faint!—( The Review and Herald, April 1, 1890.) {Pr 168.3}
To not faint is to not weary, but it also means to not be utterly spiritless. If we become void of the spirit of God, it gives Satan that opening that he looks for to steal us away from God. Prayer will keep us from fainting, and as we continue in prayer, we must watch the same with Thanksgiving. In the book of Isaiah, the Lord says that His house shall be called a house of prayer for all people. Are we His people? Are we in His house of prayer? (Isa 56:7) In the book of Matthew Jesus says, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive”. (Mt 21:22) Do we believe? Are we ready to receive? Kneel before the Lord and cast all your cares upon our Almighty God.
Our heavenly Father, God almighty,
Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me [when I was] in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. (Ps 4:1)
Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. (Ps 55:1)
As You taught Your disciples how to pray, You assured them that their petitions would be heard, and is assurance to us that our petitions will be heard. We as petitioners, just like You were, are seeking from our Father a fresh supply of strength. You are our example in all things. You have taught us that prayer is a necessity and a privilege. So, it is our privilege to come to the foot of Your throne seeking Your Grace and Mercy. If Jesus felt the need for prayer, how
much more should we sinful mortals feel the need for fervent, constant prayer. We are so thankful that You have prayed for us, that You have shed tears and Your blood for our salvation. We live in a world full of sin. I am a sinner, and we are all sinners. We are so sorry for hurting You. We humbly repent of all our sins. We pray that in Your goodness, compassion, mercy, and by Your Grace, that You forgive us of all our sins, the known and the unknown, and that You cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Give us the desire and the strength to stay in constant communion with You. Help us to not become empty vessels, void of Your spirit. We pray that You anoint us and fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Let Your Holy Spirit live and dwell with in us, abide in us. Lead us and guide us and keep us on the strait, narrow path to Your heavenly kingdom. Grant us strength, courage, and wisdom to do what is right, and favorable and well pleasing in Your sight. Let us glorify Your name and let not our will, but let Thy will be done. We also pray for all our friends, family, and loved ones. Dear God, we do not want to see any of Yours go to sleep in a lost condition. We continue to do what we can, so we pray that Your Holy spirit enters their lives’, convicts them to Your truth, that they may be saved to see the splendor of Your heavenly kingdom, and that when we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be. If any of us are stricken with any infirmity whatsoever, we pray for healing. Restore us Dear Father, and make us whole. You know the beginning from the end, and we put all our trust in You. Keep us faithful and help our unbelief. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers, and for giving us the victory over sin. We thank You and praise You, we Love You, and it’s in the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
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