How to Pray Like Jesus

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Christians are instructed to be as much like Jesus as possible. The Bible teaches the most effective way to pray based on Jesus' example. Many people make the mistake of casually throwing up a few prayers here and there without giving much thought to the process. Jesus prayed with purpose and diligence. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your prayer time.

Things You'll Need

• A place to pray
• Bible
• Notepad
• Pen
• Paper

Instructions

1. Get up early in the morning. In Mark 1:35, Jesus is shown getting up early to pray. Jesus knew that he needed to put God first in all things. Praying early in the morning not only starts our day off right, but also shows God that he is Number One in our lives.

2. Find a place where you can be alone. Jesus knew that, in order to have quality time with God, he had to be completely alone. If possible, find a place to pray where there will be no interruptions or distractions.

3. Pray with enthusiasm. Hebrews 5:7 says that Jesus threw himself entirely into his praying. We must use not only our minds but also our emotions and our spirit when praying.

4. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. Romans 8:26 tells us that Jesus prayed with dependency upon the Holy Spirit, and we are instructed to do the same. God often reveals things to us during our time of prayer. Keep a notepad handy to write down your thoughts and experiences.

5. Pray in accordance with God's will. 1 John 5:14-15 says that Jesus, being God in the flesh, knew perfectly the mind and will of God. If we are to pray as Jesus did, we must pray according to God's will.

6. Pray according to the Word of God. The only way we can be sure we are praying within the will of God is to pray according to the word of God. Reading and studying your Bible is essential to having a successful prayer life.

7. Pray in faith. When we pray according to God's will, as revealed through his word, we can pray with faith, knowing that God desires to answer our prayers. As you pray, believe that God will answer your prayers.

8. Visualize God answering your prayers. John 5:19 tells us that Jesus could do nothing except what he saw the Father doing. Just like Jesus, as we pray, we must see God doing the very things we are asking for.

Tips & Warnings

• Commit to a specific time to pray daily. Try to stick to your schedule as closely as possible. Praying requires discipline and commitment. As with anything, if we develop the habit of praying on a regular basis, it will become a crucial part of our life.

• Don't allow your prayers to become routine. Simply repeating the same thing over and over again is not pleasing to God. Be specific and personal in your prayers. God desires to have a relationship with us. Talk to him as you would a friend, not a distant, impersonal entity.