Many Christians of our times don't Pray. They turn to God only in their time of need and distress. This age churches also have their part to be blamed for. Few stress upon the Prayer and very few stress upon rigorous prayers such as Fasting Prayer, All night Prayer.
In our previous posts we saw the Prayer as a Dialogue and also we saw how rewarding public prayer should be. Christians have to follow Christ as the role model. So let us see how Christ has prayed
Early Morning Private Prayer
We see Jesus performing Early Morning Prayer in many instances. These prayers would kind of set an agenda with the LORD on what to do on that particular day.
As we saw in the last post, that Jesus did what Father showed him, So, Jesus saw Father healing the multitudes, freeing them from afflictions and performed the same in the day.
These Prayers are usually Private Prayers. He did not have anyone with him during most of his Prayer time. In fact we see that he makes the disciples go off before he goes on a private Prayer.
Fasting Prayer
Jesus was on 40 days of Fasting Prayer right after his baptism. Gospels of Matthew and Luke record it with some detail. Mark just records that he was living among wild animals.
We see Jesus did not insist that his disciples should perform fasting prayer. Instead he defended his disciples of not fasting. Also he says when he would be taken off, they will fast and Pray.
In his Mount Sermon he states the way fasting prayer needs to be done.
Also right after the transfiguration he drives out an evil spirit and when the disciples ask him why they were not able to drive that spirit he says "these type of Spirit shall go only by Fasting and Prayer"
All night Prayer
Yes. Scripture records that Jesus did all night Prayer. Gospel of Luke records him performing an all night prayer just before he chooses his 12 Apostles from a group of larger disciple crowd.
Vigorous Prayer
One of the places where Jesus prayed vigorously is in the Garden of Gethsemane.
We read in scriptures that an Angel came down to provide him strength and also his sweat dripped as blood while praying.
Intercession
In our Last post we saw Jesus communicating with Father and explicitly stating "John 11:41...And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”
What a way to intercede.... For making the crowd around to Believe in HIM, who was still in the world, he Prays to the Father to prove that HE is sent by the FATHER.
We also know that Christ is the Chief Priest and he intercedes between us and Father. (Read Hebrews 4)
Even the Holy Spirit Intercedes for us. (Read Romans 8)
So Intercession is being done to by two of the Holy Trinity, to the head of the Trinity, the Father for us.
How do we Pray?
How many times have we Prayed in any of these methods? Let's Examine ourselves. If you know you slacked in our duty to communicate with the LORD, lets return to these powerful methods and perform HIS will.
Prayer is one of the powerful communication channel which we can tap anywhere and everywhere. Keeping this in mind, have we waited enough in the LORD's presence to know HIS, will before we embark on our daily chores?
Or have we got into the quagmire of daily chores and did not want to wait on the LORD?
Let’s turn to our rigorous prayers. Take the right method, as guided by the Spirit of God. There are a secrets in each method. Ask the Holy Spirit which one would be most suitable for you.
Most of all, waiting on the LORD to know what HIS will is and accomplish HIS will in your daily life.
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