May 1, 2020 Praying with Jesus

​Jesus prayed all the time.  His disciples were fascinated with this discipline He made such a priority in His busy life. (Luke 6:12, Luke 9:28, Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35) Over time they became bold and asked Him to teach them how to pray. You know that was a day that delighted Jesus deep down into His soul!
 
Luke 11:1 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."
 
God desires all His followers to become skilled in 3 disciplines: His Word, Prayer, and Worship.  I have observed in Christians that we are usually weakest in Prayer, and that makes us unbalanced.  Prayer is talking to God about what is on our heart, and listening to what is on His heart.  We do this all the time in our relationships with others; but we call it conversation, instead of prayer.
 
When Christians pray, we have the Holy Spirit to help us in our prayers.  It is not us coming up with the words, or even the things to pray for.  It is a delightful partnership with God in the form of the Holy Spirit in our hearts leading us.  May this truth embolden us to pray with Him more often, and also encourage others in this discipline.
 
Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
 
Below is an excerpt for a prophetic word the Lord spoke to us on December 14, 2013.  Towards the end, Jesus is praying for us and with us to God, our Father.
 
Today I come to pray for thee
Each one of you I am praying for right now
Each one of you, I hear the sound of your heart, you see
So I come to pray for you because you love Me
 
Father, hear My children today, hear their hearts as they pray
My heart is one with them, you see, they love Me, I come to stand for thee
Father, look and see, look at their hearts as they seek My face
Because of Thee Father, I pray that You will keep them, let them not stray
Oh Father, I love them so much, Will You have mercy upon them?
Would You, My Father have mercy on them, you see?
How much I love them, yes they are Mine
Because of You, You see, I want to stand and pray for thee
They are my children, I love them
 
Will you take the time right now, and every day to pray?  There is a lot going on that needs our prayers – in the natural world and in the spiritual realm.  We need to regularly pray for:

• those we are in ministry with
• our church leaders
• our families and friends
• ourselves
• the leadership in our countries
• those who are sick and suffering…

 
It is powerful and encouraging to get with other believers and pray with one heart. But even when we are alone in our prayer time, we can know that we are not praying alone.  Please be on the wall of prayer for each other, it is vital!