(Just a few thoughts on these prayer posts--I'm compiling the verses in the New Testament that specifically use the word pray or prayer. Then I add a line or two from my journal that I've seen in the passage. Obviously there is much, much more that could be said on these passages. Book upon book and sermon upon sermon have been written about these truths. You can go read some of them for more. But start here, with God's Word.)
Luke 1:13
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
- a common prayer of mankind: grant us a child
- Our prayers are heard. God is real, Hei s there, He cares, even if it seems to us that the answer is very long in coming.
Luke 2:37b
[Anna] did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
- Anna lived a life of prayer and praise, poured out to her Father in heaven
Luke 3:21-22
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;[a] with you I am well pleased.”
- the Son had not yet begun His ministry, but His Father was pleased with Him, just for who He was
- the three persons of the Trinity appear together here
Luke 5:16
16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
- Jesus continues His habit of withdrawing in prayer. Even as His ministry rows, He does not neglect meeting with His Father.
Luke 5:33
33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.”
- Fasting has a place but it isn't meaningful if it isn't based on a relationship with God.
Luke 6:12-13
12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:
- again, Jesus continues in prayer
Luke 6:28
Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
- simple to say, hard to practice
Luke 9:18
18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
- Jesus' disciples observed His habits of prayer
- This time of prayer leads to Peter's declaration of Jesus as the Christ
Luke 9:28-29
28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.
- in prayer, God's glory is revealed
Luke 10:2
2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
- We are called to pray for missionaries to spread the love and truth of God around the world. Jesus left a job for believers to do.
Luke 11:1-12
Now Jesus[a] was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say:
“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread,[b]
4 and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence[c] he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for[d] a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
- God our Father wants to and does give us the good gifts we need (even if we don't recognize them as such)
- We can and should approach God as our
Father
- He provides our greatest need:
Himself
Luke 18:1-14
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
-
pray always and never give up
- to be justified before God requires humility
- Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Luke 19:45-46
45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”
- the church should be a house of prayer
- and since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, so we should be a house of prayer also
Luke 21:36
36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
- watch out for temptation
- pray for strength to be found faithful
Luke 22:32 (to Peter)
"But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
- failures are an opportunity to strengthen others, not to give in to despair
Luke 22:39-46
39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.[a] 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
-
When we are weighed down and in anguish, we can always turn to our Father.
