What should be the demeanor and the state of our hearts when we pray?
John 15:7-8
Over the last few of these devotionals in this “Jesus on Prayer” series, we have focused on what he says we should pray for. But Jesus spent a great deal of time teaching his disciples how we should pray… what should be the demeanor and the state of our hearts when we pray? Here are some major themes in his teaching:
Physical posture: Jesus did not teach only one physical stance for prayer. In Mark 11:25, he said, “When you stand praying…” He himself stood in prayer in front of Lazarus’s tomb. Jesus also knelt and then fell with his face to the ground in the garden of Gethsemane. In addition, Jesus often looked upward to God in prayer (Mark 6:41 and John 17:1).
Humility: In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, Jesus highlighted humility in prayer. “The tax collector stood at a distance, beat his breast and would not look up to heaven but said, ‘Have mercy on me, O God, a sinner!’” (Luke 18:13). Jesus wanted his disciples to imitate this deep humility, a sense that we are unworthy sinners who do not have anything to offer and who will be received by the eternal God only by his grace.
Faith: After the cursing of the fig tree, Jesus’ disciples expressed astonishment at the miracle. Jesus used it as an opportunity to exhort them to mountain-moving, faith-filled prayers. He said that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we could say to this mountain, “Go throw yourself in the sea,” and it would obey us (Matthew 17:20). “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” He strongly emphasized this again and again: “Have faith and do not doubt” (Matthew 21:21-22).
We who are evil and know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more should we be confident our loving Father will not withhold anything we need for life and godliness.
People who came to Jesus for healing were healed again and again because of their faith, according to Jesus. This also gives a clear and powerful picture of the unbreakable connection between faith and effective prayer. Part of faith is confidence like a child would have asking a loving father for food or clothing. We who are evil and know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more should we be confident our loving Father will not withhold anything we need for life and godliness.
Abiding: In John 15:7-8, Jesus gave a double condition to an effective prayer life: “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit and show yourselves to be my disciples.” Abiding in Jesus is continual spiritual intimacy with him, walking with him moment by moment. Having his words abide in us is continual intake and meditation on the Scriptures. The scriptures living continually in our minds and hearts will drive our prayer lives, as will our deep love for Jesus. This kind of prayer life results in eternal fruit, and in the greater glory of God.
Forgiveness: Jesus demanded that anyone who asks God for anything must first get rid of all bitterness and unforgiveness from their hearts. “When you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him” (Mark 11:25). I picture this as if we are going into the throne room of the King of the universe, and the guard at the door declares that any who draw near to the throne of grace must leave behind all their weapons. This is a powerful discipline that should connect to any moment of prayer in our lives. Get rid of everything you may hold against anyone who has sinned against you ever, or God will not hear your prayer.
Persistence: Jesus told the parable of the Persistent Widow, and Luke introduces it with these words, “Then Jesus told a prayer teaching his disciples that they should always pray and never give up” (Luke 18:1). We all tend to give up quickly and lose heart because God doesn’t answer us right away. The widow came to the unjust and wicked judge day after day, eventually wearing him out by her persistence. Jesus used a “how much more” argument saying that God is not a wicked, self-serving judge but a kind, loving, generous Father. So don’t ever give up in prayer!
Boldness: In a similar parable to the one we just described, Jesus spoke of a man who goes to a neighbor at midnight banging on the door so that he might arise and give him some food for a guest who has just come. The man inside is irritable and unwilling, but eventually he must yield because of the man’s boldness. (Luke 11:8) The word translated “boldness” is literally “shamelessness” or “impudence.” Strange word. But God wants us to ask the King of the universe for things only the King of the universe can do.
