Praying Effectively, Part 3

| By Sean Cavender |

Over the past few weeks we have examined the prayers of Daniel and Nehemiah. These men show us the importance of diligence in prayer. Another wonderful example of prayer is Jesus! His prayers near the end of His life, just prior to His crucifixion give us deep insight into prayer as it ought to be. 

Pray At Emotional Times 

Fear. Anxiety. Sorrow. Depression. Gladness. Joy. All of these are natural human emotions. Times of death and loss, or times of birth and life — all are times to go to God in prayer. Jesus acknowledged why He needed God’s strength when He said, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to
death…” (Matthew 26:38). Deep sorrow and fear must have captivated the Lord’s heart and mind. Jesus did not sit around and speculate what might happen. He prayed to God. 

Pray God’s Will 

Especially at heightened emotional times, we do not know what to pray. Sometimes we know what we want, but we ask if that is what we really need. Our desires might appear to clash against the Lord’s will. A new job opportunity may present itself with ample opportunity for financial success, but it might take us away from times when the church meets and family obligations as a father, mother, and parent. We are between the metaphorical rock and hard place. Pray like Jesus. His prayer in the garden was “not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). 

Pray With Others 

We studied how Daniel and Nehemiah both prayed. Jesus is just as powerful an example as those two, but what is intriguing about Jesus’ example in prayer is how He enlisted the help of others to pray with Him. He told His disciples “Watch and pray…” (Matthew 26:41). Jesus’ disciples knew Christ was willing to teach them how to pray and they asked Him to do so (Luke 11:1-4). When we need help from God, do we also turn to other Christians and ask for them to pray for us and with us? We need to. 

As children of God we need to learn how to pray effectively. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much,” (James 5:16). When we pray fervently, reverently, devotedly, and repeatedly then we can trust that God will hear our prayers. When we pray at the times we need God and ask for His will to be accomplished, then we can count the promises of God as assurance for our souls.