Praying Like Jesus: Embracing Authenticity in Your Prayer Life

Be Yourself in Prayer: How to Pray like Jesus

Prayer is an essential aspect of the Christian faith. It is an opportunity to have a personal relationship with God, communicate with Him, and receive answers to our requests. However, many believers struggle with prayer, feeling inadequate and unsure of what to say. They often assume that they need to alter their personality and become someone else when praying, especially in the presence of others. This assumption often leads to a lack of authenticity and a strain in their relationship with God.

In this article, we will explore how to pray like Jesus and be ourselves in prayer. We will look at Jesus's teaching on prayer and the examples He set for us. We will also examine how to approach prayer with simplicity, humility, confidence, and according to God's Word.

Jesus's Teaching on Prayer

Jesus taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, commonly referred to as the Lord's Prayer. This prayer is a model for believers on how to pray. It is brief, profound, and covers all the essential aspects of prayer. Jesus did not intend for us to recite this prayer repeatedly without thought. Instead, He wants us to use it as a guide for our prayers.

Let's take a closer look at the Lord's Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

This opening line acknowledges God's position as our Father and the holiness of His name. It reminds us that we are approaching a holy God and should approach Him with reverence and respect.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

This line expresses our desire for God's will to be done on earth. It shows our submission to God's sovereignty and our willingness to do His will.

Give us this day our daily bread,

This line expresses our dependence on God for our daily needs. It shows that we trust God to provide for us.

and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

This line acknowledges our sinfulness and our need for forgiveness. It also reminds us of the importance of forgiving others.

And lead us not into temptation,

This line expresses our desire for God's protection from temptation and sin.

but deliver us from evil.

This line expresses our desire for God's deliverance from evil and the evil one.

The Lord's Prayer teaches us to approach God with reverence, acknowledging His holiness and sovereignty. It also shows us the importance of trusting God for our daily needs, seeking His forgiveness, and desiring His protection.

Examples of Jesus's Prayers

Jesus's life on earth was marked by prayer. He frequently withdrew to a quiet place to pray (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16). His prayers were personal, sincere, and often included thanksgiving and adoration of God. Jesus's prayers were also full of faith and trust in God.

One of the most significant examples of Jesus's prayer life is in the Garden of Gethsemane. In Matthew 26:36-46, Jesus prays to God before His arrest and crucifixion. His prayer is an expression of His anguish and His submission to God's will.

Jesus's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane teaches us several things about prayer:

• Prayer should be personal and sincere.


• Prayer should express our emotions honestly.


• Prayer should show our submission to God's will.


• Prayer should demonstrate our trust in God.

Jesus's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane is a powerful example of how to pray. It shows us that we can come to God with our emotions and struggles and trust Him to guide us through difficult times.

Approaching Prayer with Simplicity

One of the reasons believers struggle with prayer is the misconception that they need to use fancy language or follow a specific formula to be heard by God. However, Jesus taught us to approach prayer with simplicity.

In Matthew 6:7-8, Jesus says:

“Jesus taught us to approach prayer with simplicity. We do not need to use fancy language or follow a specific formula to be heard by God.”

God does not require us to use a particular language or formula to hear our prayers. He hears us regardless of our choice of words or syntax. God desires a personal relationship with us and wants us to approach Him with authenticity.

Prayer should be a conversation with God, just as we would have a conversation with a friend. We don't need to use complex words or phrases to impress God. Instead, we should be ourselves in prayer, expressing ourselves honestly and transparently before Him.

Approaching Prayer with Humility

Humility is a critical aspect of prayer. It involves acknowledging our unworthiness before God and recognizing His greatness and sovereignty. Humility helps us to approach God with reverence and respect.

In James 4:6, the Bible says, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." Humility is essential in prayer because it enables us to recognize our need for God's mercy and grace.

When we approach God with humility, we are acknowledging that we cannot do anything without Him. We are recognizing His sovereignty and submitting to His will. Humility allows us to trust God in every aspect of our lives, knowing that He is in control.

Approaching Prayer with Confidence

Confidence is another essential aspect of prayer. It involves trusting in God's power and ability to answer our prayers. When we approach God with confidence, we are demonstrating our faith in Him.

Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." When we approach God with confidence, we can be sure that He will answer our prayers according to His will.

Confidence in prayer does not mean that we approach God arrogantly or with a sense of entitlement. Instead, it involves having faith in God's character and promises and trusting that He will do what is best for us.

Approaching Prayer According to God's Word

Finally, approaching prayer according to God's Word is essential. The Bible is God's Word, and it provides us with guidance on how to pray and what to pray for. When we pray according to God's Word, we are aligning our prayers with His will.

John 15:7 says, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." By remaining in God's Word, we can be sure that our prayers are according to His will and that He will answer them.

Praying according to God's Word also involves seeking His guidance and wisdom in every aspect of our lives. The Bible provides us with wisdom and guidance on how to live our lives, and when we pray according to God's Word, we can be sure that we are on the right path.

Conclusion

In conclusion, prayer is an essential aspect of the Christian faith. It provides us with an opportunity to communicate with God, receive answers to our requests, and have a personal relationship with Him. To pray like Jesus, we need to approach prayer with simplicity, humility, confidence, and according to God's Word.

Jesus's teaching on prayer and His examples provide us with guidance on how to pray. We should approach prayer as a conversation with God, being ourselves, expressing our emotions honestly, and trusting Him to guide us through difficult times. We should also approach prayer with humility, recognizing our unworthiness before God, and submitting to His will. We should approach prayer with confidence, trusting in God's power and ability to answer our prayers, and according to God's Word, seeking His guidance and wisdom in every aspect of our lives.

Prayer is an essential aspect of our relationship with God, and we should approach it with authenticity, reverence, and trust. When we pray like Jesus, we can be sure that our prayers are heard, and that God will answer them according to His will.