What were Jesus’ prayers like?
You know, not just how he taught us to pray in the Lord’s Prayer but what He prayed about and how.
My friend Janet McHenry explains it all in her new book, The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus: What He Prayed and How it Will Change Your Life Today.
Janet is the author of six books on prayer (along with 17 other books!).
Her most famous bestseller is PrayerWalk: Becoming a Woman of Prayer, Strength and Discipline.
She had many insights into prayer and, in particular, Jesus’ prayers and His prayer life.
What impressed you the most about the prayers of Jesus?
“Jesus’ prayers were simple. No fancy words or long involved sentences. No flowery metaphors or tangents. That’s comforting to me, because as a journalist I prefer simple language.
“Also, his heart simply wanted to be aligned with his Father’s heart—which, to me, is the ultimate purpose of prayer—to be one with the Father in heart, mind, and soul.”
When did Jesus pray?
“Scripture tells us he prayed in the morning and he prayed at night.”
That’s not too surprising since we’re urged to pray without ceasing. Every indication is God and Jesus communed all day long.
Janet noted the same, “I have what I call an organic praying life. I pray all day long, as God brings the needs in front of me.”
That’s what I do, too.
When I asked what position He prayed in, Janet remarked the Scriptures don’t really say.
Jewish tradition, of course, often included lying face down at the altar in Jerusalem.
Since Jesus prayed at the table, he may have been reclining (which is how they ate during the first century).
Traditionally, people kneel but Janet pointed out we don’t have to be on our knees to pray.
I seldom knee, though I appreciate an opportunity to do so in churches with kneelers.
If Jesus and the Father were one, why did he pray?
The practical reason:
“While Jesus was Emmanuel—God With Us– here on earth in human flesh, he was not in heaven with his Father.”
Janet noted “they were one but separated by form—one in Spirit, one in flesh.”
She likened the relationship to marriage. While a couple are “said to be one, they still need to communicate.”
“Communication is key for relationships. He depended on the Father to guide him. In fact, scripture says Jesus HAD to be with his Father.”
The prayers of Jesus, of course, were not limited to the famous prayer closet He advised His followers to seek.
He prayed whenever he needed to–often times leaving behind the hubbub of life with His disciplines to check in with God.
Prayer is the second most common topic Jesus taught on, eternal life being the first.
Why doesn’t God answer some prayers?
This is the question we hear often.
“The classic answer would be that he does answer them—but not necessarily as we would have preferred.”
Janet turned that around, however, and reminded me of Jesus’ prayers on the cross,
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”—which he uttered on the cross. Forsaken is a tough word here. It means “abandoned” or “deserted” or colloquially, “dumped.”
Perhaps it’s better to look at the result of that forlorn prayer?
“We were given the opportunity to be adopted as sons and daughters of the Most High God. So, there was an answer, and while Jesus felt forsaken, he was not. There was a better answer for a higher good.”
Answers like that are often a long time in coming.
Some say you can best understand the will of God by looking backwards, but it takes a choice of faith.
“I don’t claim to know why people suffer. Suffering will exist whether we have a relationship with God or not. I choose to have a relationship with God and choose to communicate with him, because when I do, I am not alone in that suffering: he is with me.”
Why should we pray? Doesn’t God already know what we need?
There are many great reasons to pray. Janet explained we pray because:
- We follow the example of Jesus.
- We love God and should have an inherent need to be with the Creator who loves us.
- Our relationship with the Father deepens as we communicate with him.
- Jesus told us to: “Ask and you shall receive . . . .”
- He taught us to pray: “When you pray . . . .”
- Spending time with God aligns our heart and mind more closely with his.
- That alignment is oneness—something that Jesus prayed for in our behalf.
- When we turn to a posture of prayer—literally or figuratively—it’s an indicator that we do believe and have faith in the One who can move heaven and earth.
“Sure, we pray “Save me from this hour” a lot—the prayer Jesus said he would not pray. But that’s okay, too.”
How did Janet put her book together?
Like any good writer, Janet organized her notes and references as she intently studied Jesus’ prayer life.
She paid close attention to what He taught about prayer, His personal prayers and practices.
How did writing the book affect Janet’s prayer life?
Over the course of writing five books about prayer, Janet has incorporated many practices into her personal life.
With this new book, however, she observed many of His prayers arose from troubled times.
When reflecting on events surrounding Jesus’ arrival on Palm Sunday, Janet saw Jesus’ heart was troubled.
But then He went on.
“What shall I say? ‘Save me from this hour?’ No, it was for this very reason.” And then his short prayer: “Father, glorify your name!”
“Jesus’ whole mission was to point people to his Father.
“But here’s another thought: ours should be, too.
“Glorify yourself through me” is a powerful prayer, but it can’t simply be a rote prayer—it has to come from the heart.”
Final thoughts
Janet McHenry’s book is an easy read, using daily circumstances to show how to apply Jesus’ prayersto our own lives.
Readers can find dozens of books on aspects of Jesus and prayer–especially on the Lord’s prayer.
But The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus: What He Prayed and How it Will Change Your Life Today is the only book dedicated to Jesus’ prayer life.
Shouldn’t we follow the example of the Creator of all prayers?
Tweetables
What was Jesus’ prayer life like and how can we emulate it? Janet McHenry shows how. Click to Tweet
Did Jesus only pray when troubled? Click to Tweet
If Jesus and the Father are one, why did Jesus bother to pray? Click to Tweet
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