Greater when I kneel.

Continuing our conversation about gaining and growth in our spiritual life.

Philippians 4:6

Our western culture has a habit of saying phrases and words that we do not mean. How often do you say you love moments, places, and people? Do you really love your stuff like you love family/friends? Like prayer, when you realize the value it holds you start to pray for others and yourself differently.

Jesus was the perfect man. He was 100% man and 100% God and everything he did was perfect. Wouldn’t you want to learn how to say the perfect prayer that leads to change? A prayer that can change your addiction, a prayer that change your job, prayer that can change or bring healing.

Three ways Jesus prayed that lead to change that we will be chatting about.

1. Jesus prayed long prayers.
   Morning prayers are better than coffee, better than breakfast, and better than anything else you may do to wake up.

Jesus prayed the entire night and that just proves we/I don’t pray enough. When the pastor preps for his prayer time, he starts with worship. Sometimes with music, sometimes with hymns, and sometimes he sings his own music. With no time set or limit set he sings until he is ready to start reading the Bible. Sometimes he doesn’t know what to pray, but starts reading and that word becomes his prayer.

Maybe you don’t have the words to pray. Maybe you don’t know how to pray. Well, read Psalms and be filled with words for prayer.

Other times I have words to pray, so I pray. Sometimes I pray for others. Praying for others can be so uplifting as well.

Keep in mind, prayer is like a life in the military. In that lifestyle you are prepped for war and in a way your life is a war zone. Your prayer life is a war zone. Either you’re in the battle or preparing for it.

You may have so many seeds to plant. As time passes, as the seasons pass, keep planting until that last seed is in hand. If that’s all you have, then treat it differently. Be extra careful with it, like prayer, pray as if it was your very last.

What are planning to do with what God is about to give you?

When you pray to benefit yourself, that prayer doesn’t always serve the purpose God has for you. God wants to hear from you, He wants to know what you will do with the blessings He will give you. He isn’t going to give you something you will not value. Pray for what you value.

God always gives you more than what you ask for, always more and always in abundance.

Sometimes we are waiting on God to heal, to change, to add. But God is waiting for your faith to believe He can do more. God is waiting for you to do greater things.

1. Jesus prayed short prayers.
   Acts 12:5 - Peter was in jail while the church was praying for him. The angel came to the jail and removed the chains, opened the doors, and freed him before anyone noticed.

Sometimes you don’t have to pray long, just deeply and truly. Often your fast prayers are more effective when you’ve been doing your long prayers. Jesus every morning was on the mountain, on a hill, and everyone knew in the morning he would be praying. Consistent with much self discipline. A gift of the spiritual. Having this routine in your life can lead to expecting God to show up and maybe God is expecting you, too.

What you do in your long prayer life will be relieved in your short prayer life.

The Bible says to renew your mind. Prep for war. Like charging your phone, you know you can’t use your phone if it’s about to die. However, when fully charged you use it to its max potential.

Your long prayer life will reflect in your short prayer life.

2 Kings 20:30- How many of you at your sick bed would like a prophet to come and say, “ the Lord God says you are going to die.” The man, in shock, prayed a short prayer and the Lord added 15 years to his life. His prayer life made this short prayer a very powerful prayer.

1. Jesus prayed hard prayers.
   Jesus was tired, poor, abandoned, tortured, betrayed, and eventually killed. No one in this church/room has ever been in a worse situation than Jesus. Know and believe He understands your struggles. He prayed through his hardships and handed them to his father. As you should too. This was his example for you. He didn’t have too, but he did and you should as well.

John 12:27 - His prayer presented his situation to his father. Sometimes just presenting your struggle is enough. Things can happen by just presenting. Let your request be known to God.

Jesus was teaching humanity humility.

We have to get to a point in our lives that we can’t do it. We are not able, but God is able. Your humility will extend far beyond and further than your own hands, your own actions, and your own effort.

Some people like to talk to God on their drive to work, upon walking into church, or when needing something. Are you seeing effect from these prayers?

You see, on my knees I see far more, I walk further, I accomplish more than walking, than using my hands, than seeing with my eyes. Coming to prayer, coming to your knees, is coming into humility. Jesus knows there was and is a purpose for the pain.

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves.....

Amen, God bless, and let me know how I can pray for you.