Written by: John Sernaque
Dear Reader,
Books / Pr - Prayer (2002) / Chapter 15—Jesus’ Example in Prayer
Chapter 15—Jesus’ Example in Prayer
Prayer Rejuvenated Jesus—His days were passed in ministry to the crowds that pressed upon Him, and in unveiling the treacherous sophistry of the rabbis, and this incessant labor often left Him so utterly wearied that His mother and brothers, and even His disciples, had feared that His life would be sacrificed. But as He returned from the hours of prayer that closed the toilsome day, they marked the look of peace upon His face, the sense of refreshment that seemed to pervade His presence. It was from hours spent with God that He came forth, morning by morning, to bring the light of heaven to men.—(Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 102.) { Pr 172.1 }
Prayer Sustained Jesus’ Spiritual Life—It was not on the cross only that Christ sacrificed Himself for humanity. As He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), every day’s experience was an outpouring of His life. In one way only could such a life be sustained. Jesus lived in dependence upon God and communion with Him. To the secret place of the Most High, under the shadow of the Almighty, men now and then repair; they abide for a season, and the result is manifest in noble deeds; then their faith fails, the communion is interrupted, and the lifework marred. But the life of Jesus was a life of constant trust, sustained by continual communion; and His service for heaven and earth was without failure or faltering. { Pr 172.2 }
As a man He supplicated the throne of God, till His humanity was charged with a heavenly current that connected humanity with divinity. Receiving life from God, He imparted life to men.—(Education, 80, 81.) { Pr 172.3}
Our Father,
We thank You for giving us yet another opportunity to come to the foot of Your throne in prayer. We ask and pray that we may be like You, and receive Your character. That we may be rejuvenated through prayer, as You were, and receive peace and refreshing from on High. Let us spend valuable time in prayer that we may receive and reflect unto others Your light from heaven. We thank You for the sacrifice You made on our behalf and the example You gave to us by the outpouring of Your life on this fallen race. We pray that You help us sustain our life in the way that You did by staying in constant communion with our Father. To draw power and strength provided by the Most High. We pray that we do not drift away or backslide away from You. Keep us faithful in our prayer life. Please pray for us, as You did for Peter, that our faith fails not. Let us keep a constant connection between us and heaven that we may impart to men the light You continue to shine upon us. We pray for Your continual presence as we continue to labor in the vineyard. We pray that one day You will call us Your good and faithful servants. Save us dear Lord, and forgive us of our sins. All these things we ask and pray, in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
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