Dimensions of Prayer
 
Lesson - 6
 
 
Jesus’ Lifestyle of Prayer
 
Introduction
Many times Jesus was found to be praying. It is the lifestyle of prayer that will cause us to become effective Christians. Jesus often prayed with vehement cries. In this lesson, let us learn from the Master, the art of Praying
 
Steps in preparation
 
1. What Jesus did in the Morning
  1. Jesus went to prayer each morning. This would take few hours as Myles Munroe (2012) said, “He would spend five hours praying and two minutes casting out a demon or one minute cleansing a leper”.
    1. khw;F 1:35. mtu; mjpfhiyapy;> ,Ul;NlhNl vOe;J Gwg;gl;L> tdhe;jukhd Xuplj;jpw;Fg;Ngha;> mq;Nf n[gk;gz;zpdhu;.
      And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
 
2. Where did he pray
  1. Jesus went to wilderness to pray; Often he would withdraw from the Crowd to a secret place to commune with the Father. There are times we have corporate prayers and family prayers. We must also find time to pray alone, with God. The morning time is the best to pray.
    1. Y}f;fh 5:16. mtNuh tdhe;juj;jpy; jdpj;Jg; Ngha;> n[gk;gz;zpf;nfhz;bUe;jhu;.
      And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
  2. Jesus would go to mountains to pray and continued to pray all night. Hence it is possible to pray occasionally, for many hours during the night, as Jesus did.
    1. 12. me;ehl;fspNy> mtu; n[gk;gz;Zk;gb xU kiyapd;Nky; Vwp> ,uhKOJk; Njtid Nehf;fp n[gk;gz;zpf;nfhz;bUe;jhu;.
      And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
 
3. How often should we pray
  1. The psalmist says that we should pray at least three times a day. Prayer can be continuous with emphasis on few times during the day
    1. rq;fPjk; 5:3. fu;j;jhNt> fhiyapNy vd; rj;jj;ijf; Nfl;lUStPu;; fhiyapNy ckf;F NeNu te;J Maj;jkhfp> fhj;jpUg;Ngd;.
      My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
  2. It is nice to consciously to remember God at strategic times during the day; Patterns and Processes produce better results.
    1. rq;fPjk; 55:17. me;jpre;jp kj;jpahd NtisfspYk; ehd; jpahdk;gz;zp KiwapLNtd;; mtu; vd; rj;jj;ijf; Nfl;ghu;.
      Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
 
4. How loud should one pray
  1. We can pray with our mouth closed; We can also pray loudly; We can also pray softly (whispering). Depending on the situations and time of the day, we can engage in different forms of prayer. Jesus often prayed with vehement cries.
    1. vgpnuau; 5:7. mtu; khk;rj;jpypUe;j ehl;fspy;> jk;ik kuzj;jpdpd;W ,ul;rpf;f ty;yikAs;stiu Nehf;fp> gyj;j rj;jj;NjhLk; fz;zPNuhLk; tpz;zg;gk;gz;zp> Ntz;Ljy;nra;J> jkf;F cz;lhd gagf;jpapdpkpj;jk; Nfl;fg;gl;L>
      Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
 
5. Priority of Prayer over activities
  1. Jesus gave more priority to prayer than to activity. While disciples were often engaged in activities such as fishing, feeding the people, Jesus engaged in prayer after or before those activities. For example, after feeding 5000 men, Jesus retreated back to prayer
    1. 21. ];jpuPfSk; gps;isfSk; jtpu> rhg;gpl;l GU\u;fs; Vwf;Fiwa Iahapuk;NguhapUe;jhu;fs;.
      And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
    2. 22. ,NaR [dq;fis mDg;gptpLifapy;> jk;Kila rP\u;fs; gltpy; Vwp> jkf;F Kd;Nd mf;fiuf;Fg;NghFk;gb mtu;fisj; Jupjg;gLj;jpdhu;.
      And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
    3. 23. mtu; [dq;fis mDg;gptpl;lgpd;G> jdpj;J n[gk;gz;z xU kiyapd;Nky; Vwp> rhaq;fhykhdNghJ mq;Nf jdpikahapUe;jhu;.
      And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
 
Conclusion

We can learn to imitate Jesus. We can pray in the morning. Like Daniel, we can choose to pray three times a day as his early life-style was. We must give more priority to prayer than to activities. Jesus prayed several hours, but spent only few minutes casting a demon or healing lepers. May the Lord empower you to pray more and reap great results.
References
Munroe, M. (2012). Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer. Whitaker House.