Make Jesus your prayer companion

7 ways to pray according to your schedule

One of the most useful prayer practices you can undertake is to enlist a prayer friend, someone to pray with you, in person, over the phone. If this is true (and it is), how much better would it be to make Jesus your companion in prayer?

"How can I do it?" You may ask.

"Praying together with Jesus, praying what you are praying". After all, this is what it really means to pray "in the name of Jesus." When you act or speak in someone's name, you do it because you know and pursue that person's wishes. So making Jesus your prayer companion, so to speak, means praying according to your commitments.

"Yes, but how?" You may ask.

I would reply: "By praying the following seven prayers as often and sincerely as possible." According to the Bible, each one is a prayer of Jesus himself:

1) "I praise you".
Even when he was frustrated, Jesus found reasons to praise his Father, saying (in one of these cases): "I praise you, Father, Lord of the heavens and the earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to children little ones ”(Matthew 11:25, NIV). Talk about seeing the bright side! Praise God as frequently and with fervor as you can, as this is the key to making Jesus your prayer companion.

2) "Thy will be done."
In one of his darkest moments, Jesus asked his father: “If it is possible, that this cup will be taken from me. Yet not as I will do, but as you will do "(Matthew 26:39, NIV). Some time later, after further prayers, Jesus said: "Thy will be done" (Matthew 26:42, NIV). So, like Jesus, go ahead and tell your loving heavenly Father what you want and what you hope for, but - however difficult it may be, how long it takes - pray for God's will to be done.

3) "Thanks".
The most frequent prayer of Jesus recorded in the scriptures is a prayer of thanksgiving. The writers of the Gospel all report it by "thanking" before feeding the multitude and before celebrating Easter with his closest followers and friends. And, having reached the tomb of Lazarus in Bethany, he prayed aloud (before calling Lazarus out of the grave), "Father, thank you for listening to me" (John 11:41, NIV). Then collaborate with Jesus in thanking, not only at meals, but also on every possible occasion and for all circumstances.

4) "Father, glorify your name".
As the moment of his execution drew near, Jesus prayed: "Father, glorify your name!" (Luke 23:34, NIV). His greatest concern was not for his security and prosperity, but for God to be glorified. So when you pray, "Father, glorify your name", you can be sure that you are collaborating with Jesus and praying together with Him.

5) "Protect and unify your church".
One of the most moving chapters of the Gospels is John 17, who records Jesus' prayer for His followers. His prayer showed holy passion and intimacy while praying: "Holy Father, protect them with the power of your name, the name you have given me, so that they may be one like us" (John 17:11, NIV). Then collaborate with Jesus in praying for God to protect and unite His church around the world.

6) "Forgive them".
In the midst of his execution, Jesus prayed for those whose very actions would cause not only his pain but also his death: "Father, forgive them, because they don't know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34, NIV). So, like Jesus, pray that others will be forgiven, even those who have hurt or offended you.

7) "In your hands I commit my spirit".
Jesus echoed the words of a psalm attributed to his ancestor David (31: 5) when he prayed on the cross, "Father, in your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23: 46, NIV). It is a prayer that has been prayed for centuries as part of the evening prayers in the daily liturgy that many Christians observe. So why not pray with Jesus, perhaps even every night, consciously and reverently placing yourself, your spirit, your life, your worries, your future, your hopes and your dreams, in his loving and almighty care?

If you pray regularly and sincerely these seven prayers, you will not pray only in collaboration with Jesus; you will become more and more like him in your prayer. . . and in your life.