WHAT JESUS TAUGHT US ABOUT PRAYER

1. Matthew 5:23-24: Jesus said while we are praying if we remember someone who believes we did him wrong, we are to stop praying, to go and reconcile with the person and return to prayer after the reconciliation. It takes 22 hours to walk from Jerusalem to Samaria, so the person will make 4 trips = 88 hours, almost 4 days without rest to execute this principle. Reconciliation between the person we offended and ourselves is crucial to the acceptance of our prayer towards God, our Father.

2. Matthew 6: 6-7: Jesus said when we pray, we should find a secret place, not to pray publicly to show off. God wants to reward us publicly in prayers made in secret. Jesus Himself used to go to secret places to pray:

JESUS PRAYING IN SECRET  

• Luke 11:1: Example of prayer by Jesus in a secret location. One day He was praying at a certain place. When the disciples looked for Him and found Him praying, they waited and asked Him to teach them how to pray.

• Another example of prayer by Jesus in secret: Mark 1:35. While it was still dark and people were asleep; Jesus went to a solitary place where He prayed. 

• Luke 6:12-13: It came to pass that in those days; Jesus went into the mountains and continued all night to pray to God. When it was day, He called the disciples to Himself.

• Luke 22:39-46: Jesus went to the mountain to pray with Peter, John and James – He went a distance further and prayed.

4. Matthew 6:7-8: When you pray, do not multiply the words or repeat them. Our Father in heaven knows what we need before we even ask Him, yet we must pray to receive from Him. James 4:4-5

5. Matthew 6 :16-18: Not if we fast but when we fast – we must not have the appearance of someone miserable or the admiration by people will be our only reward. But if we have a good look, God will reward us abundantly and openly.  

6. Matthew 6:13-15: We must forgive our offenders while praying, so that God will also forgive our sins as we forgive our offenders.
7. Colossians 3:13: We forgive because we have been forgiven, and because we want God to forgive our trespasses. God wants us to forbear and forgive other believers and people who have offended us.
8. Matthew 6:14-15: If we do not forgive our offenders, God will neither forgive our sins.
9. Matthew 18: 21-22: Peter asked the Lord Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother – seven times? Jesus answered until seven times seven.
10. Matthew 18: 23-35: The king forgave his servant millions of dollars, but the servant could not forgive his debtor who owed him a far smaller amount; rather he put him in prison till he paid him back. So, the king restored the debt of his servant and locked him up till he paid back the debt.

Pray Persistently: 

• Luke 18:1-8: Jesus taught us to pray with persistence and not give up but keep praying till we see changes or His intervention. “Pray Until You See It Happen”: PUSH. The example of the persistent widow shows that the wicked judge responded to her positively because she would not leave him alone.

• Luke 11:5-8: Jesus told the parable of a man in need of bread late at night. His friend’s children and family were in bed, so he said he couldn’t help. But the man kept knocking persistently until the friend gave him as much bread as he wanted… not because they are friends, but he wanted to be left alone.

• Isaiah 62:6-8: God says He has set watchmen upon the walls of our lives who will not hold their Peace Day and night but will continue to mention our problems to Him. So, we should not give Him any rest, until He solves our problem. God has sworn with His right hand that He will no longer give our bread to our enemies.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that you taught me how to pray, help me to follow those directives that I may pray efficiently according to your will which is your word. I want to pray with the knowledge of the principles you taught us in the Bible.

Please continue reading in the next section: “The Assurance of God Hearing and Answering Prayers.”