The Way - Prayer as a way of life - wk 4

Prayer as a way of life

(Mention guest speaker [Rex Yoder?] next week, if it wasn’t already announced.)

For the last few weeks we have been talking about “The Way.” Specifically, we have been talking about the way Jesus lived His life. Jesus was always busy, always serving and teaching people. People were always following Him around and asking for things. Jesus cared so much for people that He even gave up His life for all of us. Even though Jesus was SO BUSY, He never once responded to someone by saying, “Sorry, I’m just too busy.” “Hey, Jesus! How have you been?” “Oh man, it’s been busy around here! Things have been crazy lately.”

When you think about it, Jesus was at least as busy as we are today. Even so, He never complained or made excuses. He never tried to get out of helping someone. In fact, He would go out of His way to help others. Unlike us, He had all of this going on, and He didn’t even have a good pickup truck to get around in. Even if God had have popped a vehicle out of thin air for Him, He probably still would have walked.

In week two we talked about the fact that Jesus walked everywhere He went. He didn’t get in a hurry. Instead of being rushed, He made sure He had time for people. Last week we talked about Jesus being fully present in every encounter. He wasn’t just “here today” helping people, He was HERE! Connecting with people. Giving them His full attention. Listening to their deepest needs.

During this study, we’ve been thinking about the way we do life. How we tend to get busy and stressed, then let that busyness get in the way of the people we care about. The people who need us. We can even get busy and stressed trying to help those people. Trying to serve our friends, family, or even at church. We can get so overwhelmed with the busyness of life that we feel trapped. We can get to the point of realizing that the way we are working for God is actually destroying God’s work in us.

What do we do? There has to be a better way. How did Jesus do it? How did Jesus manage life and busyness? How was He able to have a deep and meaningful relationship with the Father, even though life had to be getting in the way?

Today we are going to finish up this series by talking about the way Jesus prayed. Before we talk about the way Jesus prayed, think about your own prayer life for a second. There’s no need to respond to these questions, but think about what you believe about prayer. Would you say that you believe in the power of prayer? Would you say, “Yeah, I believe in the power of prayer, but I really don’t pray that often.” Maybe you believe and you pray all the time, but sometimes if seems pointless. Your prayers don’t seem to work.

Between 2008 & 2017, the Pew Research Center conducted surveys around the world asking people if they prayed daily. This study wasn’t limited to Christians, but any religion. This is what they found…

The highest percentage of people who prayed every day were in Nigeria at 95%. Not surprisingly, the lowest was in China at 1%. In the middle, at 55%, sits the God fearing, Christian nation of the United States.

We are looking at the way Jesus lived. Specifically, today, the way Jesus prayed. Jesus prayed constantly and consistently. If there was anything in Jesus life that was constant and consistent, it was the way He sought the Father in prayer. He prioritized the presence of God in prayer. No matter what was happening at the time, no matter how crazy things were, no matter what people expected from Him, no matter what was going on with the Roman government or the religious leaders, Jesus constantly and consistently prayed.

Jesus lived a better way. If we want what Jesus had, we have to pray like Jesus prayed. Earlier I asked you to think about your prayer life. If you struggle with prayer, take that thought a step further and identify why you struggle. Why do I have a difficult time praying consistently and effectively? Here are 3 common reasons people struggle with prayer. First…

Some of us lack focus.

This is probably the one I struggle with the most. It’s hard to focus on praying. I get distracted by things constantly. I don’t have ADD, but my prayers are sometimes ADD prayers. My mind will start to wonder. Sometimes I will get bored. Raise your hand if you have ever fallen asleep while you were praying! It’s hard to focus, I forget what I am praying about, I get distracted, then I fall asleep.

Maybe you can stay focused, but you just aren’t as good at praying as so-and-so. You might say you lack confidence…

Some of us lack confidence.

“My best friend, she is a prayer warrior. When you hear her pray, she sounds like a professional prayer! In one prayer she will quote 7 different names of God & 5 different verses!” When we sit down to bless the food, all I can say is, “Good food, good meat, good God, let’s eat.” You might say that you don’t really know how to pray. Some lack focus, some confidence, and some lack faith…

Some of us lack faith.

You tried praying, but it didn’t work. You doubt God really even hears your prayers. Even if He does, you don’t really think He cares. You prayed all the time for your marriage, but it still failed. For healing, but the illness remains. For an addiction that still has a hold of you. If that’s you, you might even say that prayer could work for others, but it just doesn’t work for me. You’ve simply given up on prayer.

As we dive in and study what prayer is, we should start by understanding what prayer IS NOT. Prayer is NOT:

A formal presentation to God. It’s not a check list of things we have to say and things we have to avoid. There isn’t a special code that, if repeated correctly, God will grant all of your wishes. Speaking of which, it’s also NOT…

Giving God a wish list. God isn’t a genie with phenomenal cosmic power in an itty bitty living space. He isn’t a spiritual vending machine. Prayer is not…

A spiritual negotiation. Prayer is not…

A performance to impress God. He doesn’t answer prayers based on a 10 scale grade of how you did in the prayer. Prayer is not…

A show to impress others. It’s not an opportunity to show off what you know about God and be bombastic and pleonastic. See, less intelligent people like me have access to a dictionary too.

In fact, Jesus taught the opposite. He taught that Prayer isn’t just an action you do, especially for other people to see. Prayer is a way that you live.

Prayer isn’t just an action you do. Prayer is a way that you live.

It was THE WAY Jesus lived, prioritizing the presence of God. Jesus lived a life of prayer. Many times, you would see Jesus leaving the crowds of people, often early in the morning, to be by Himself to pray alone. He would pray in public. He prayed before meals. He prayed before important decisions. He prayed before and after healing people. Paul tells us to pray without stopping, and that’s THE WAY Jesus lived. He prayed about everything.

Steve Shirley, from the Jesus Alive website, compiled a list of all the verses in the Gospels that show Jesus praying. Here is what he found about the way Jesus prayed…

At His Baptism. (Lk 3:21-22)

In the morning before heading to Galilee. (Mk 1:35-36)

After healing people. (Lk 5:16)

Praying all night before choosing His 12 disciples. (Lk 6:12-13)

While speaking to the Jewish leaders. (Mt 11:25-26)

Giving thanks to the Father before feeding 5000. (Jn 6:11, Mt 14:19, Mk 6:41, Lk 9:16)

Before walking on water. (Mt 14:23, Mk 6:46, Jn 6:15)

While healing a deaf and mute man. (Mk 7:31-37)

Giving thanks to the Father before feeding 4000. (Mt 15:36, Mk 8:6-7)

Before asking who the disciples say He is, and Peter called Jesus “the Messiah.” (Lk 9:18)

At the Transfiguration. (Lk 9:28-29)

At the return of the seventy-two disciples. (Lk 10:21)

Before teaching His disciples the Lord’s Prayer. (Lk 11:1)

Before raising Lazarus from the dead. (Jn 11:41-42)

Laying hands on and praying for little children. (Mt 19:13-15, Mk 10:13-16, Lk 18:15-17)

Asking the Father to glorify His name. (Jn 12:27-28)

At the Lord’s Supper. (Mt 26:26, Mk 14:22-23, Lk 22:19)

Prayed for Peter’s faith when Satan asked to “sift” him. (Lk 22:31-32)

Prayed for Himself, His disciples, and all believers just before heading to Gethsemane. (Jn 17:1-26)

In Gethsemane before His betrayal. (He prayed 3 separate prayers.) (Mt 26:36-46, Lk 22:39-46, Mk 14:32-42)

After being nailed to the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Lk 23:34)

While dying on the cross, Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46, Mk 15:34)

In His dying breath, Jesus prayed, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. (Lk 23:46)

Prayed a blessing on the bread before He ate with others after His resurrection. (Lk 24:30)

He blessed the disciples before His Ascension. (Lk 24:50-53)

Prayer isn’t just an action you do. Prayer is a way that you live.

Prayer isn’t just an action you do, it’s a way that you live. It’s a lot like going on a diet. Often you might hear someone say they are going on a diet. A health nut would correct them and say that eating healthy isn’t something you do for a while, it is a way of life. In the same way, prayer isn’t something that you do, it is a way of life. The WAY you live. A life of prayer.

When praying becomes an action that you do, you will never have time to pray. There is too much going on and you have way too much to do! You simply don’t have time to pray. When prayer is a way that you live, instead of saying that you don’t have time to pray you will realize that YOU DON’T HAVE TIME NOT TO PRAY!

If prayer is not a way of life for you, you will find it almost impossible to be effective in your faith. It will be almost impossible to find joy in the saddest moments of your life. Almost impossible to find PEACE in the most difficult struggles. Almost impossible to be a witness to the good news and greatest gift you have ever received.

There is no moment in your life that is not a great opportunity for prayer. In every moment Jesus looked to God and sought His presence and power through prayer. You don’t have time NOT to pray. Complicated decisions, that is a great opportunity to pray. Relational stress, prayer opportunity. Financial pressure, prayer opportunity. Temptations, prayer opportunity. Celebrations, prayer opportunity. Did the sun come up this morning? Prayer opportunity. Every moment is the perfect moment to seek God because in every moment we NEED God’s presence in our lives. We need God’s power in our lives.

Jesus taught that prayer isn’t just an action that you do, but a way of life. Prayer is a way that you live. Another thing Jesus taught is that if we want to be effective in this world, we must disconnect from it and connect to God…

Disconnect from what doesn’t last to connect to the One who does.

Jesus said this while He was teaching people how to pray. He said, “Don’t be like the people who pray fancy prayers to impress others. If prayer is about getting other people’s attention, that is all you will ever get.” Instead, He said…

Matthew 6:6 NLT

6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Disconnect from all the things, shut the door, and connect to God. Alone. No noise. Eliminate the distractions, leave the phone in the other room, ignore the texts, close the web browser, turn off the news, shut off the TV… Be… Still…

The Greek word that is translated “going away by yourself” is “tameion (tam-eye-on).” It means “secret room.” Jesus is saying, nobody needs to know you pray. Nobody needs to know what you are praying for. Instead of announcing your prayers, you really should go to a place where nobody even knows where to find you. A secret room. By yourself.

I love the way this verse is worded in the Message Bible…

Matthew 6:6 (MSG)

6 “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

When it’s just you and God, your focus is going to shift. It will shift from you to God as you begin to sense His goodness and His grace. Intimacy is never accidental! You never grow closer to friends or to your spouse without spending time together. Find a secret place you where you can spend time with God. A quiet place to pray and grow closer to Him.

“Yeah, yeah… Pray without ceasing. I got it. Find a quiet place… I’ve heard it all my life. But what am I supposed to pray about? I pray for my friends, but then just go blank.”

Well, what do you care about? Pray about that. What’s on your mind? Pray about that. There is no limit to what you should pray about. If it is on your mind, it’s on God’s heart! Listen to what Paul told the Philippians in Chapter 4, Verse 6…

Philippians 4:6 NLT

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

God cares. Don’t worry, pray. Talk to God like you are talking to your closest friend, because that is what He is. If you have questions, ask. If you are mad, tell Him. If you are hurting, talk to God about it. He loves you and He cares about you. He wants you to talk to Him about the things that are important to you.

God doesn’t just want to be a part of your life. He doesn’t want to be a part of your morning routine as you get ready for work, hoping you will remember Him tomorrow. He IS your life. He promises that He will never leave you or forsake you. He isn’t PART of your life, He IS your life. Prayer isn’t just an action that you do, it is the way you live.

It’s easy to feel guilty about not praying enough when you read verses like…

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV

17 pray without ceasing,

You read that and feel like you are supposed to pray all the time, when in reality Prayer is SO MUCH MORE than that. It’s getting alone with God, it’s talking to God, and it’s so much more. Prayer is a way of life, living in God’s presence. Breathing in God’s grace. Hearing God’s whisper. Experiencing God’s peace. Witnessing God’s power.

Prayer isn’t getting God to do what we want, it’s aligning our will to His. Prayer helps me see where I could do better, it comforts me in trials, it helps me to know the direction God wants me to go, it’s being real with God when I hurt, and celebrating with God when I rejoice.

What does it mean to never stop praying? It means that God is more than just a part of my life. He is my life. Always there, in the ups, in the downs, and everything in between.

If you still don’t know what to pray about, let me share some advice from Max Lucado that you may find helpful. He says that when you pray, you should give God one of four different types of thoughts. First…

Give God your WAKING thoughts.

When you wake up in the morning, give God your first thoughts of the day. “Good morning, God. This is the day You have made. I’m gonna rejoice and be glad in it. Guide my steps today. Correct me when I’m out of line. I’m devoting this day to you.” Then…

Give God your WAITING thoughts.

Meaning, talk to God about that thing you are waiting on. Talk to God about the family member you are waiting for healing. Talk about your job. Talk about whatever person or situation that will occur in the future. Valentine’s day is coming up, so Amy is might pray that I don’t forget about it. Or maybe it’s me praying I don’t forget. Next…

Give God your WHISPERING thoughts.

Go to a quiet place and talk to God about the most intimate things. Whisper a prayer for your crazy co-worker. Maybe you are talking to someone and you feel like whispering a prayer to God in that moment. While you are standing in line at Arby’s you don’t want everyone wondering why you are praying for God to cast out a demon from the guy standing next to you, so you whisper a prayer to God instead. Give God your waking thoughts, your waiting thoughts, your whispering thoughts, and finally…

Give God your Waning thoughts.

Don’t wait until you lie down, because you will probably fall asleep, but debrief with God at the end of the day. Talk about the day. Talk about what went well, what you could improve on, and how the weather was. Praise God, tell Him your needs, ask for help, be open, and be honest. Whatever comes to mind. Because God isn’t just a part of your life, He is your life and He cares.

Prayer isn’t just an action that you do, it is the way you live. To close, I want to read one final passage in scripture about prayer, then we will close in prayer…

Philippians 4:6–7 NLT

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Father, thank you for loving us! Thank you for being so much more than just a part of our lives. Help us as we seek you through prayer. Guide us as we experience prayer as more than just an action, but a way of life.