Thinking On Prayer

Someday, I would like to do a real study on prayer, but I fear it would turn into a book!  There is so much in the Bible on prayer, it must be important to the believer and so why not just look at prayer and Jesus ....

Take a peek at Mark 1:35 as a starting point.

Jesus is praying prior to moments of POWER in His ministry
Matthew 14:22-33 - Jesus is walking on water!
Prayer must play an important part in our ministry!
Without it, yes God will still know our needs, but with no communications we may well not know His desires in our ministry!
No communication will yield no power in our efforts at ministry.
Find a dead body of believers (there are everywhere!) and you will find no prayer!

Prior to TEACHING
Luke 11:1-4
And in answer to a question on prayer, Jesus give us a model to consider ...

In moments of struggle (TEMPTATION)
Matthew 26:36-46
Jesus is struggling with what He know must come to pass.
In like fashion I am tempted, you are tempted, if you call yourself a Christian you are tempted as well!  It is only with prayer that we will be able to stand and not fail.
It is only with prayer that when we fail, Jesus will rebuild us (yet again!) and continue to stand between us and His father's fury (God) at our rebellion (sin).

In moments of SUCCESS
Luke 5:15-16
Jesus has plenty of ministry moments, uncountable, and yet he had to take time to pray!
Likewise, we must force ourselves and our busy schedules to allow for prayer, plenty of prayer!
For all of the reasons above and to just THANK God for His faithfulness to us, because He knows we are faithless to Him ...

In times of big DECISIONS
Luke 6:12-13
You are going to read this and go,  "What decision?"
And Jesus had made a choice of some type, and what was to follow in His teaching that day was extremely interesting in what he had to say.  Continue reading through verse 49 to see what I mean!
In our lives, big decisions require big prayers.
That means you pray as long as it takes for God to answer you!
Yes, you might missed your nightly soap but your life, your ministry, those whom look up to you are too important for you to make ANY choice without knowing God is backing you!
Slightest hesitation in your spirit and it is time to rethink your activities!

Consider these points:
Jesus most likely grew up saying the Shema and the Eighteen Benedictions twice a day.
Jesus calls the Temple a "House of Prayer".
Jesus was faithful in attending Synagogue, "as was His custom". (Luke 4:16)
Prayer played a important part in Jesus' life and it should in yours as well.