7 Powerful Things Jesus Told People About Prayer

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It’s the season of Lent on the church calendar … the time of year when we focus on Jesus’ gracious and merciful sacrifice for our sins. Some people “give up” something and some add something. I want to be even more intentional about prayer.

Because…

One of the things that leaves a mark on my heart when I think about Jesus’ suffering and death is that when He spoke the words, “It is finished.” At that moment, as He released His spirit, the Curtain to the Holy of Holies was torn in two…

Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed out His life. And the curtain [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

Mark 15:37–38

Through Jesus’ act of sacrificial love, you and I have been welcomed into God’s presence with our prayers. We no longer need to bring a personal sacrifice other than a humble repentant heart covered by the blood of our Savior to approach the Heavenly Father.

I believe that’s why Jesus not only set an example of prayer for us, He also cautioned us and gave us detailed instructions.

We’ve talked about 12 Things Jesus Said and Examples He Gave About Prayer. Today, let’s take a look at…

7 Powerful Things Jesus Told People About Prayer

1. Be Genuine – Don’t be a Hypocrite

“Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 

Matthew 6:5

Jesus showed His followers that prayers are to be private conversations with God. Yes, we pray in community, not for attention or show but to come to Him with combined hearts sharing our needs as family.

2. Spend Time Alone With God

When you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 6:6

God wants us to come and talk with Him. (Psalm 27:8) He wants us to pour out our hearts with honest emotions … to express our need for forgiveness and our thanks and praise. He wants us to trust Him with every need and every want.

3. Don’t Simply Repeat Empty Memorized Words

When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.

Matthew 6:7

It’s easy to simply repeat prayers we memorized as children, and of course, Jesus encouraged His followers to pray persistently. What Jesus was warning against was treating our prayers like magic chants. The Lord wants us to approach Him in Spirit and Truth.

4. Pray with a Humble Repentant Heart

“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’”

Luke 18:13

In this parable, Jesus taught the difference between the prayers of a self-righteous churchgoer and the humble heart that knows there is no righteousness in him. When we approach our Heavenly Father, our self-righteousness is like filthy rags. But by God’s grace through faith, when we repent and receive His forgiveness, we can come in prayer completely covered by Jesus’ righteousness.

5. Pray with a Forgiving Heart

“When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

Mark 11:25

And because we are forgiven, our Father calls us to forgive others to show them His love and compassion. Our bitterness blocks God’s what God wants for us and for the people who hurt and offend us. It’s not easy but remember … “[We] can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

6. Pray for Your Enemies

I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

Matthew 5:44

Does anyone want to pray for their enemies? I don’t think so. But God knows that obediently praying for our enemies comes from humble obedience. He also knows that prayer can turn enemies into friends through God’s all-sufficient grace.

Let’s pray…

A Humble Prayer to Pray Like Jesus

Father, thank you for inviting me to “come and talk” with You. Thank you for giving Jesus whose sacrifice split the curtain and made it possible for me to come into Your presence with an open honest heart.

Please forgive me for neglecting my time with you. Forgive me for relying on my self-righteousness rather than relying on Jesus with a humble heart.

Please help me slow down to pray openly and honestly and talk with You about all that’s going on in me and around me. Help me to just be me before You because I know You know everything about me. Help me to love the way You love. Help to forgive like Jesus. Help me do what I am unable to do on my own.

Thank you for teaching us and showing us how to pray. By Your grace, fill my heart and give me everything I need to “never stop praying.” In Jesus’ name. Amen.

One more powerful thing Jesus told us about prayer…

7. Ask, Seek, Knock

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7

Prayer turns our focus from ourselves to God.

We know that Jesus told us to SEEK the Kingdom of God above all else and He will give us everything we need.

The Life Application Bible Notes say this about ASKing, SEEKing, and KNOCKing…

“Knowing God takes faith, focus, and follow-through. Don’t give up. Continue to ask [God] for more knowledge, patience, wisdom, love, and understanding.”

We can count on Him. Those are the things He loves to give His children.

May you be blessed as you take to heart Jesus’ truths about prayer.

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