Five Powerful Lessons About Prayer from Jesus!

Jesus taught us much about prayer by word and by example. There are at least five lessons here about our prayer lives. See if you can find more!

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Matthew 26:36–46 (ESV)

Here are five lessons

Jesus turned to his Father in his darkest hour! He knew what was about to happen. He was sorrowful, troubled and overwhelmed. We cannot even imagine what he must have been feeling. The dark hours, the desperate hours, are when we need God the most. If Jesus needed him at this point, how much more do we need him?  

He needed to make a decision whether to face what was coming or avoid what was coming. Knowing how devastating it would be, he asked to avoid it. However, knowing the plan of his Father, he surrendered to it! By its very definition, we naturally embrace comfort. But Jesus often leads us into the uncomfortable. This leadership will always take us into the realm of the transformational.

His warning still rings true. After he prayed, he confronted his drowsy disciples and warned them. This warning has three parts.

He said: watch. We are to be alert to our world. We are to be especially alert to the work of God and the will of God, to opportunities and the way of obedience.

Then, pray. Prayer is effective. It guards us against temptation. When we pray, we put ourselves into God’s powerful presence.

Finally, understand that the spirit is willing, flesh is weak. So this watching and prayer work requires discipline. We don’t just fall into a lifestyle of watching and prayer. It takes some intense effort on our part. This effort is aided by God himself.

Prayer equips Jesus to face the hours ahead. There is a marked difference in his demeanor. We don’t have a before and after picture but look at what the scripture says. Before prayer he was sorrowful and troubled (v. 37). After his time of prayer, he is determined when he tells his disciples: rise let us go (v. 46).

Prayer works for us in the same way. Our fears will melt away after a season of prayer and become courage to do the work God has called us to.

He prayed for strength as he interceded for us. In the larger context of scripture and in the events that followed, we know that his crucifixion bridged the gap and made reconciliation between us and God possible. He continues a ministry of reconciliation today! Intercession is a vital component of a healthy prayer life. We must always pray for those around us!

Your Turn

Do you see lessons I missed? Share them in the comments. And please join our group on Facebook!