Jesus Prayed to God

There are many times that Jesus went off alone to pray. He offered prayers of intercessions and thanksgivings for his disciples and followers. Jesus prayed with others and alone in secluded places, like the wilderness or in mountains. 

In his final days on earth in human form, Jesus and his disciples went to Gethsemane to pray, and Jesus went further away on his own. He went away three different times asking God if there was any other way. These were prayers full of emotion where Jesus even “threw himself on the ground.” 

Jesus expressed the emotions of joy, grief, sadness, anxiety, and anger. There are accounts of these expressions all throughout the Gospels. We are told of times when Jesus shed tears like us when we are emotional. Tears are like prayers, when we cannot find or speak the words because God knows what is behind every tear that runs down our cheek.  

Hebrews 5:7 - In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 

Prayer: For Guidance

O God, by who the meek are guided in judgement, and light rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts, and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer, 1979; pg. 832.)

Ponderings…

What forms of prayer do you practice regularly? Do you offer thanks to God for the blessings in your life? What would it look like for you to try new ways of prayer? 

Illustrations used with permission. Copyright information for print above: Illustration by Elizabeth Wang, T-01503-OL, ‘In his life on earth Jesus prayed to His Father with praise and thanks’, copyright © Radiant Light 2006,<http://www.radiantlight.org.uk/>