PRAYING LIKE JESUS TO DO GOD’S WILL
God’s will for us is to born-again believers in his Son Jesus Christ, and be conformed to the likeness of his Son (John 3:16; Romans 8:29). However, to be able to do God’s will, the Bible shows we need to desire and to pray like Jesus for power to do God’s will (John 5:30; Acts 1:8; Philippians 4:13).
JESUS PRAYED WITH DESIRE TO DO GOD’S WILL
Jesus knew he was the Son of God, but being in human flesh, he was aware he needed to pray to God the Father for strength: In the process of pursuing his Father’s will, Jesus often prayed. Before the Lord Jesus Christ began his mission for God in this world, he fasted and prayed forty days and forty nights (Matthew 4:2). He prayed regularly to the Father by getting up early in the morning to commune with him. Just before sacrificing his life on a cross to atone for our sins, Jesus labored in prayer all night in the garden of Gethsemane. God the Father made clear his will to his Son and enabled him to suffer an agonizing death on the cross for our salvation (John 19:17-30).
Jesus had the desire to “always do what pleased the [Father]” (John 8:29). And our Lord also understood that “by myself I can do nothing” (John 5:30). Hence, he frequently prayed to the Father.
Jesus is our perfect example of praying to do God’s will.
THE DISCIPLES LEARNED TO PRAY LIKE JESUS
Peter, a chosen disciple of Jesus Christ, had a strong desire to do God’s will. He told the Lord: “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And all the other disciples said the same thing. (Matthew 26:35). However, when Jesus was unjustly arrested all the disciple fled and left him alone. Later, when Jesus was facing death by an unjust trial; Peter, who was secretly standing by, was accused of being one of Jesus’ disciples. At this time, Peter denied three times that he ever knew Jesus–Peter evidently was weak and fearful of dying with the Lord. (Matthew 26:69-75).
Peter and the other disciples had failed to pray as the Lord repeatedly ask them to do in the Garden of Gethsemane, prior the occurrence of the trial. They all fell asleep, as Jesus went to pray alone. Speaking of his disciple, Jesus said: “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mathew 36-46).
After Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection from the dead, he taught his disciples to pray for power to do God’s will, even in the face of opposition. Before he went back to heaven, he instructed them to wait for power from the Holy Spirit to do God’s will of spreading the gospel to the world (Acts 1:8).
Peter and other disciples were praying on the Holy Day of Pentecost, when they received power from the Holy Spirit. The Spirit descended upon them, like the Spirit descended on Jesus when he was anointed by the Father for his mission in the world (Acts 2:1-4; Luke 3:22). The Spirit enabled the disciples to boldly proclaim the gospel of Jesus to thousands of Jews, who, “with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross” (Acts 2:23).
The apostle Paul was chosen to preach to Jews and Non-Jews. He believed: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Paul prayed fervently, and he asked many churches to pray that he might effectively carry out God’s will as a chosen ambassador of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Colossians 4:3-4; Ephesians 6:19-20; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2). God enabled Paul to suffer a great deal in doing the will of God. He suffered being in prison, severely flogged many times, stoned and left for dead, in shipwreck three time, being hungry and thirsty often, being naked and cold. And he suffered many other things, while dealing with the pressure of his concern for all the churches (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Even while in prison, Paul prayed and wrote letters to minister to the churches. And those letters are used today in ministering to the churches of the Lord.
Paul said, “ follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
WE TOO SHOULD PRAY LIKE JESUS TO DO GOD’S WILL
As the disciples of Jesus today, we also need to pray like Jesus to do God’s will. Pray for strength to follow and obey him. Pray for power to proclaim the good news of salvation through God’s only begotten Son. Pray to be conformed the likeness of our Lord and Savior (Romans 8:29). Pray to be ready to live with God in heaven, when our Savior and Lord returns to take all who love him to live with God forever (John 14:2-3).
