Pray like Jesus to be More Like Jesus

What does prayer mean to you? If you are anything like me, before my relationship with Jesus, prayer was nothing more than recited words, spoken in a ritualistic monotone to a God that I thought I knew. In moments of tragedy, I would treat God as a 911 operator, begging for help, while promising, “God, if you get me out of this, I will never (insert sin here) again!” Sound familiar? If so, then I implore you to buckle up, because what if I told you that there is so much more to prayer than you ever imagined? What if I told you that your prayers are actually an act of collaboration with the God of the universe? What if I told you that your prayers have the capability and the authority to change your circumstances, your loved ones, and the world?!  The apostle Paul states that we “are collaborators with God”; that is, that we are working to determine the outcome of events (1 Corinthians 3:9). This must be getting your attention or at least making you curious if nothing else. I encourage you to break through the monotony of religious, safe, prayer, and learn how to pray the way God intended us to.  

If you were to take a close look at your spiritual inventory are you satisfied with your findings? Prayer, at times, shines a bright light on places where there may be spiritual deficiencies. Feelings such as anger, bitterness, resentment, fear, and control often come bubbling to the surface within heartfelt, honest communication with God. Have you ever prayed something aloud to God, having Him reveal something in your heart that you weren’t even consciously aware of? God knows our hearts intimately. A tremendous benefit to powerful, intimate prayer is that God uses our very own words to conform us to the likeness of Jesus.  

Have you ever passed by someone, smiled and said, “good morning” only to be ignored? This can stir up a brief moment of frustration because you spoke without receiving an immediate, expected response. It is safe to say that many of us have become frustrated or even angry with God because we feel as if he is distant or non-responsive to our cries. While the problem certainly doesn’t lie in our Creator, it may not be our words in which there is a problem, but our hearts behind our words. “And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.” (James 4:3)  

The purpose of real, purposeful prayer is to become less of the flesh and more of the Spirit. Through each and every word we utter, our hearts and minds are being transformed into that of Jesus!  

What if you were told that your prayers, YES YOURS, could change God’s mind and ultimately the shape of the world as we know it? In his book, Celebration of Discipline, Richard J. Foster writes, “Moses prayed boldly because he believed his prayers could change things, even God’s mind.” He later states, “We are working with God to determine the future. Certain things will happen in history if we pray rightly. We are to change the world by prayer.” I don’t know about you, but this blew me away and completely rocked my preconceived experiences for prayer as a means to acquire a need or check a “religious” box.    

So how then do we “pray rightly”? When unplugged for a fixed amount of time, our laptops are useless without their intended power source. It is through regular communication with God that we develop our own personal experience and a strengthening of our faith, which directly connects us to our Power. As Jesus teaches us throughout scripture, it isn’t so much the words we should be focused on, but the BELIEF behind our words. Jesus has a rather harsh encounter with his disciples after they failed to drive a demon spirit out of a young boy. “He (Jesus) replied, “because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.”” (Matthew 17:20)

How often do we put limitations on our prayer because we compare them to our own limited capabilities and not on the authority that Jesus promised us? Jesus’ words were not just intended for his disciples. They should be our conviction to align our hearts with His, pray with authority, and EXPECT mountains to move.  Whether it be addiction, mental illness, financial problems, or relationships, we all have our spiritual mountains that need moving. Take a moment before you pray, zone in on exactly Who you are praying to, ignite your faith, and BELIEVE that God is with you and that God is for you. “Humble yourselves, therefore under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all of your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)