“…He went up into the hills by Himself to pray. Night fell while He was there alone.”
Matthew 14:23 (NLT)
On a daily basis, Jesus had personal communication with the Father in the form of prayer. His practice was to go to the mountain (or a solitary place) and spend quality time with the Father. His practice caused His disciples to ask Him to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1).
There was something about the way Jesus prayed. He did not give them a lecture on prayer. Instead, He gave them an example by His conduct.
What is prayer? According to Dr Robert Coleman, prayer is:
- A witness to the realisation that we are inadequate.
- An affirmation of our faith.
- The engine that helps us take what God promises in His Word and put it into practice.
In order to do effective praying, one needs to:
- Hear the Word – it is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path – Psalm 119: 105 (NLT).
- Study the Word – all Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
- Memorise the Word – let the message of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use His Word to teach and counsel each other (Colossians 3:16).
- Use the Word – for the Word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires (Hebrews 4:12).
Prayer is your greatest strength, so practise it on a daily basis. Set aside that quiet time to spend with the Lord. All you have to do when you pray is believe, and it is done according to the will of God (Mark 11:24).
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 10:12-18; Matthew 13:18-35; Genesis 36; Genesis 37
Prayers is powerful tool. I am so grateful and thankful that my Mom who departed my life while I was in high school, taught me to pray and instilled in me to always pray.