Encouragement to Pray More
After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.
Jesus prayed to the Father and many times he got away from the crowd to pray. Over two hundred times the Word mentions Jesus praying; Jesus was perfectly connected to the Father through prayer. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken (John 12:49).
The relationship Jesus had with the Father is the model for the relationship we strive to have with Christ through the Holy Spirit, and that relationship is created through prayer. Prayer shows our desire to talk to our Lord, shows that we trust him, and shows that we depend on him. Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37). If we love the Lord then shouldn’t we desire to talk to him and to know him?
The more we pray the more it becomes a habit, because getting closer to the Lord drives our motivation. The more we pray the more we trust the Lord and the more we see him as God and ourselves as his servants. This gives us more peace and joy when we trust the Lord, putting our prayers in his divine hands, because it frees us from trying to be our own god. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). This is a powerful verse telling us to trust him completely because he is God and that he loves us perfectly. Leaning not on our own understanding means we are not god. If we trust God’s ways over our own understanding he will make our paths straight. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Take this verse to heart because it will increase your faith.
Today be encouraged to pray because it will move you closer to God and show your faith and dependence on him. Let your faith grow as you pray; sense God’s perfect love and the blessings he wants to give you. Be sure to offer prayers of thanks and praise, for he is with you today and will guide you through everything because he cares about every detail of your life.
Let’s Pray: Lord, open my heart to you in prayer as I seek your guidance, love, and wisdom to reflect Christ today. Help me to pray more, to trust you more, to depend on you more and to become a better servant. In Jesus name, Amen