Connect Through Prayer
Our connection to God is through prayer. You may say or feel that you did not pray for a long time and don’t know how. You might feel intimidated to pray and scared to talk to God, but the truth is we don’t need to be afraid to bring our burdens to Him. We can bring things that scare us, overwhelming thoughts or circumstances and things that bother us to Him. God wants an intimate relationship with us, but we need to make the move as scripture states:
"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you" James 4:8.
John 15: 1 describe Jesus as the vine and the Father as the vinedresser.
Connect Through Jesus
Jesus is the way to the father (John 14:6). John 15:4-5 say clearly, we cannot live without Jesus comparing the relationship to a vine and its branches. The branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine. Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches, without Jesus we cannot do anything.
We need to look at Jesus when He made time for prayer as our example. You should seek the Father for the same reasons as Jesus did. You can go to Him with any problem in any situation, at any time.
How and When Did Jesus Pray
- He went to a secluded place early morning to pray (Mark 1:35)
- He prayed during the night (Luke 6:12)
- He prayed before making big decisions seeking God’s guidance (Luke 6:12-13 Before choosing His disciples)
- He prayed in distressing circumstances (Matthew 26:39 before his crucifixion)
- Jesus prayed in thanksgiving (Luke 10:21)
- He prays before a meal (Matt 14:19; Matt 15:36; Luke 24:30)
- Jesus prayed seeking His Heavenly Fathers will (Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42; seeking the Fathers will is also mentioned in John 5:30)
- He prayed for comfort (Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42; John 17:1, 5)
- He also prayed for others (John 17:6-26; Luke 22:32)
Jesus gives us the model prayer in Matthew and tells us how we should pray in private behind closed doors, using few humble, modest words once because the Father knows your needs (Matt 6:6-8).
The Model Prayer
'In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
[For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Matthew 6: 9-13