A Prayer Warrior's Pose

11 Another time Jesus was praying, and when He finished, one of His disciples approached Him. (Luke 11:1)

It was not unusual for Jesus' friends to see and to hear him praying. This section of Luke would indicate they were impressed by this practice. I can't even imagine what Jesus' prayers, His conversations with His Father in heaven sounded like but I am sure the words touched these followers.

According to Scripture, Jesus conversed with His Father daily and in many circumstances. He prayed alone, in the early morning hours. He prayed in the evening when He was seeking direction and comfort. He prayed as he blessed a meal and shared with His followers. 

Jesus prayed before performing miracles. John 11:41, "Jesus looks up and said, 'Father, I thank you that you have heard me." This was prayed before He raised Lazarus from the grave. He prayed with faith that His Father would hear Him and respond.

Jesus offered prayers of thanks before the miracle happened. Oh, if only I had such faith, I too could pray, knowing God hears. Imagine praying at the start of every day, maybe before even throwing the cover off. To pray a prayer thanking God for all His going to do with, for, and through us this day.

What an idea! We know He is always working, and probably always waiting for us to get ready; get ourselves open and in place to be used in a great big way...by Him...for His glory. That's how I want to pray.

Hebrews 7:23-28 Jesus Prays for Us

I love to listen to audio books while driving.  It can make a long trip more fun for me.  When I find a good series I will download them and listen while walking too.  This motivates me to get out there and exercise; in fact I look forward to hearing the next chapter or two and might even walk longer than I normally would.

The current series I am listening to is by Randy Alcorn.  One of the reasons I love his writing is his passion for Heaven.  This series is a fictional story line with characters that keep returning, but with the focus changed in each book.  There is always a death involved and scenes that play out in Heaven.  It is just how I would love to think of Heaven, a real place where we are real people.  The parts I love are the encounters these saints have with Jesus.

This verse reminds me of the way this author portrays Christ.

Hebrews 7:26 (NIV)
 Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 

The quiet time spent in the morning is time when I view Jesus as my priest, my counselor, my confidant, my friend.  We talk, we are silent, we share and then I start my day.  These intimate encounters are the perfect way to begin any day.  They are also the only way to end one.  The last few minutes of my waking hours are filled with thoughts of Jesus.  The words I prayed in the a.m. are the words I process in the p.m.  Measuring the value of my day against the purpose God has for me.

Read Hebrews 7:23-28

Listen to Hebrews 7:23-28