⏱ 13 min read

• The disciples of Jesus watched Him closely and came to the conclusion that His prayers were a major part of His life and His prayers were always heard.
• I believe they could tell that the source of His power and ministry came from His secret prayer life.
• This created a hunger in them to know how to pray, so they asked to be taught. Let’s dig in:

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” So He said to them, “When you pray, say:

• Remember, earlier they had not been able to cast out the demon from the little boy but they saw that Jesus did it with ease and hinted to them the power in prayer and fasting.
• Probably this is why they asked this and I believe we should all enrol in this school of prayer, Christ being our teacher.
• And may we practice – faithfully every day – the lessons He teaches us, in Jesus’ name!

#1. Prayer Works! Believe in it!

The disciples believed strongly that Jesus’ private prayer life was the actual source of all He did. I mean why pray if we will not receive an answer? God has given us His Word and He has promised to answer our prayers every time (Jer 33:3).

• Jesus did not say that we might possibly (perhaps, maybe) get an answer to our prayers. He said that we would get an answer:
• “And I say unto you, ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” ~ Luke 11:9
• No word expresses a stronger assertion than the word shall. Believe that God is answering your prayers right now!

‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ ~ Jeremiah 33:3

#2. Learn How to Pray.

We all need to learn how to pray or be taught how to pray! Do not assume you will know how to pray just because you’re a Christian: “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” ~ James 4:3.

The Holy Spirit is our ultimate teacher and guide in prayer (Rom 8:26): “In the same way the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words.”

• Remember that the Holy Spirit guides us primarily with God’s word (John 14:26).
• Get into the Word and learn the various prayers in there (especially the ones Jesus prayed and taught).
• I also believe that we can learn how to pray from the books, sermons, and prayer meetings of God’s anointed servants who have walked with Him faithfully.

#3. Prayer for the Christian is not an option; it is a necessity!

• So He said to them, “WHEN you pray, say:“ Not if you pray… When you pray!
• It’s like being told, “when you bathe use soap” OR “when you cross the road, look left and right and left again.”
• Prayer is something we must do all the time! It is a constant communication we must have with our Father.
• Prayer is not reserved for special occasions; prayer is our lifestyle! (Shout prayer is my lifestyle!)

"Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart," ~ Luke 18:1

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

#3. You, Yourself Pray!

Jesus taught us to pray to our heavenly Father. Many people do not know how to pray themselves. They want somebody else to pray for them. They ask pastors and prophets to pray for them.

• Please don’t misunderstand me, there is nothing wrong with being prayed for. But God wants us to learn how to pray on our own!
• Our Christian life should not depend on another person’s prayers. Jesus said, “When YOU pray, say:” You are supposed to be able to pray yourself. Every other prayer is an add-on.
• Remember that the prayers of a righteous man avail much (James 5:16). You are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor 5:21). You are righteous!

You are made righteous in God’s sight (in Christ) to get results for your prayers! Start praying for yourself now! Do not depend on someone else. They may be snoring when you think they are praying for you!

#4. Pray To Your Heavenly Father! “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven”

Jesus directed us consistently to pray to the heavenly Father Himself. Is there any difference between praying to Jesus and praying to the heavenly Father? There must be, otherwise Jesus would not have told us what He did.

“In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” ~ John 16:23-24

• If we want 100% results, let’s do what Jesus did and what He said we should do.
• Begin your prayer by saying, “Our Father,” “Heavenly Father,” “Dear Father,” or “Father which art in. heaven,” etc.
• Jesus did not teach us to pray to His mother. He taught us to pray to His Father. (I have yet to see a scripture to believe that Mary can do anything for anyone now).

#5. Pray in the name of Jesus!

Dear friend, there is great power in the name of Jesus! Our heavenly Father will respond when He hears the name of Jesus. “Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.“

• At the places where I serve, people sometimes use the leader’s name in a bid to get rapid results. “Doc said this… Bishop said this…” (sometimes it’s not even true).
• Why do they do this? Because names have power. “At the mention of the name Jesus, every knee shall bow…” (Phil 2:9-11)
• Demons respond to the name of Jesus. Sickness responds to the name of Jesus. Satan will bow to the name of Jesus. There is power in that name.

“then know this, you and all the people of Israel: it is BY THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.” ~ Acts 4:10

Our heavenly Father responds to the name of Jesus. Jesus told us to use His name to get responses from the Father; to get results in prayer! From today, whenever we pray, let us use the name of Jesus!

#6. Start with Thanksgiving!

“Hallowed be Your name.” Jesus was teaching us to enter into God’s gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: to be thankful unto Him, and bless His name (Psalm 100:4). Spend ample time thanking God, praising Him and honouring Him!

• Caution: please do not trivialise thanksgiving! Don’t think Jesus’ instruction is to while away time to ‘get to the main thing,’ as some people seem to do.
• Thanksgiving gives us access to His presence; Thanksgiving glorifies God, honours Him and shows appreciation! (Luke 17:15-17, Psalm 100:4, 50:23)
• Thanksgiving is a sacrifice (Psalm 107:21-22) and thanksgiving provokes or triggers the miraculous (John 11:41-43)

#6. Pray About God’s Kingdom!

“Your kingdom come.” Jesus taught us to pray on God’s desires first. God’s desire is for His kingdom to be established here on earth. God’s kingdom speaks of His influence and reign and we must pray for it.

• Pray about a kingdom need: pray for labourers to be sent into the harvest field; pray for souls to be won; pray that they will be established!
• Pray that the church of God will be built and the gates of hell will not prevail against it! Pray that this devotional will reach 1000s and millions for Jesus!
• Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” ~ Matthew 9:37-38

#7. Pray For God’s Will To Be Done on Earth

“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” God’s will is a mysterious thing to us because our human mind cannot comprehend it. But Jesus is teaching us that we should pray about this mystery.

• In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus spent 3 hours on this prayer topic! Dear friend, do not neglect this prayer on God’s will.
• “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”
• Perhaps if we do not pray about it, many things will happen in our lives that are not God’s will.

- What if Judas' conviction of his wrongdoing had come just as he was about to betray Jesus and he decided not to do it again? Jesus would not have died!
- What if Pilate had decided to release Jesus? What if he had remained strong in early perception that Jesus was indeed innocent or listened to his wife and decided to halt the crucifixion of Jesus?
- What if Peter and all the other disciples had not deserted Jesus and picked up swords to fight to the end?

I’m just saying for God’s perfect will to be done, all these had to happen as they did. I believe Jesus’ prayer was answered (Heb 5:7) and God’s will, which involved all these many aspects was done. May that be the same for us also as we pray on this!

#8. Pray for Your Daily Bread!

“Give us day by day our daily bread.” I believe this is a part of the prayer we all know how to do and perhaps are masters of. And rightly so, after all, who else but our Heavenly Father can we depend on?

• I believe the daily bread speaks about the physical provision of our needs: food, money, jobs, physical healing, etc.
• I believe this speaks of spiritual sustenance also: “man shall not live by bread alone but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God!”
• Do not think asking for physical blessings is wrong; In v13, God states that He is more loving and good than our earthly parents who try to give us physical things.

Just in case you have enough food to eat and money in your account. Please never think you are so secure you do not need physical blessings from God. Do not put your security on things of earthly value.

#9. Pray for forgiveness!

“And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” How many of us will agree that we need mercy and forgiveness? I certainly need plenty and Jesus teaches us to pray about it.

• You must first admit that there is some sin; some of us think we are too good and we do not sin. That thought alone is a sinful delusion:
• If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:8-10).
• Besides sin, we may also have debts we owe God. Some of us owe God a mission (like Jonah); some of us may owe Him some good works, etc.

Finally, our forgiveness from God is dependent on our forgiveness to others. If we harbour hurts, bitterness and unforgiveness, we cannot receive forgiveness from God. Release everyone who needs your forgiveness; not for them, but for you!

#10. Pray: do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

As we conclude, I will have you know that this is a very very important prayer. Dear friend, there are many traps and evil targeted at us out there. [Your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour ~1 Peter 5:8]

• Some from the devil’s camp; some from our own lusts; some from wicked and unreasonable men, etc.
• Jesus told Peter and the disciples: Keep actively watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
• May the Lord deliver us from every trap and evil plot of the enemy against our lives!
• There is so much more to share on “shamelessness, persistence and trusts” (v5-13) but I came across some images (IG: yosiay) I believe you can scroll through below and it will be a blessing.

Let’s model our prayer based on Jesus’ school of prayer and may we reap great rewards and answers from the Lord! “Sweet brother, little darling, keep on praying; don’t stop praying!” Heyy… you’re blessed!