The Prayer Life of Jesus

By Sandra Higley

Note: This Bible study is formatted for small group open discussion. If you use this study by yourself, we suggest that you journal your answers to the discussion questions. Also, please use suggested translations where indicated. Biblegateway.com is an excellent source for translations you may not have on hand.

One of the most exciting, risky things I’ve experienced is a prayer journey to Yogyakarta and Bali during a 10/40 Window campaign. An intercessor friend and I felt the Lord leading us to go, and for six months prior to leaving, He had us prepare in some extreme ways—from a specific diet to an intense study of the history and culture of the people we would encounter. But the most intriguing and—gulp!—dangerous thing was going with no itinerary, making no arrangements for hotel or travel accommodations. We had no cell phones, no contact with our families stateside, and no idea where He would lead us. We knew a missionary family in the area, but they believed they could not be involved in what we were doing because it might “blow their cover” in this predominantly Muslim nation.

As two 40-something women alone in a strange country thousands of miles from home, we were thrilled and overwhelmed with this assignment. It truly was a “pray-like-Jesus-prayed” mission: complete reliance on where the Holy Spirit would direct us next. Thinking back on the things we were allowed to do and the opportunities we were given in the spirit realm still brings feelings of awe! Oh, how I wish I operated in that same level of do-nothing-except-what-the-Father-tells-you prayer on a minute-by-minute basis.

And then I wonder: Why don’t I?

Discussion Questions

Praying like Jesus prayed is a dangerous and thrilling proposition! Lou Shirey writes, “Our inclination is to seek out the safe things, to pray in ways that bring comfort and encouragement. We believe prayer is designed to let God know what we need—and in turn allow Him to create a safe place for us to dwell. Yet, when it came to Kingdom advancement, Jesus didn’t pray safe prayers. He prayed dangerous prayers.”

Think about your current prayer list. Which prayers would you call “safe” and which would you call “dangerous”? Why?
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In a seemingly topsy-turvy Kingdom where being last makes you first, losing your life is the only way to find it, and foolish things confound the wise (Matt. 10:39, 19:30; 1 Cor. 1:27), Jesus taught that these principles were actually the secret to living God’s way. Shirey says, “Dangerous prayers are the safest ones. They bring us to a place of completely surrendering to God, trusting Him in everything. . . . As a follower of Jesus have you prayed a dangerous prayer? If the most dangerous prayers are actually the safest prayers, then why would any of us hold back?”  ____________________________________________________________________________________

What key phrases in the following Scriptures indicate that complete surrender and trust in God is a critically important prayer posture? (2 Kings 18:5–6; Ps. 9:10; 20:6–8; 31:13–15; 44:5–7; 49:5–7, 12–14; 118:8–9; Isa. 2:22; Rom. 15:13)  ____________________________________________________________________________________

Rebecca Shirey explains that when we follow Jesus’ example of praying with complete trust in God’s choice, we benefit in profound ways:

• We tap into His unlimited resources (praying human solutions will limit us to human resources; trusting Him brings about an outcome only He can achieve).
• We enjoy His greater good (praying from our perspective might bring disastrous results in the long term; His solution taps into means that bring our highest good).
• We enter a deeper place of intimacy (emptying ourselves of any desire to get our own way brings satisfaction beyond imagination).

What evidence (positive and negative) of these truths have you seen in your own life? _____________________________________________________________________________________

Dave Butts asks us to consider why Jesus prayed. “Jesus prayed, not just as a model, but because He had to pray.” What insights do the following passages give into why Jesus prayed? (Ps. 2:7–8; John 5:19; James 4:2)      _____________________________________________________________________________________

How do John 15:1–8 and Matthew 6:10 show that we are to continue to pray the John 5:19 model?  _____________________________________________________________________________________

According to Brenda Poinsett, as Jesus continues to pray for us in His eternal role as intercessor, at least some of His prayer concerns revolve around three areas. Look up the following passages to find why she believes these areas are central to His intercessory concerns:
Our sin and transgressions (1 John 2:1) _______________________________________________________________________

Our faith challenges (Luke 22:32; Rom. 8:34) _______________________________________________________________________

Our service challenges (John 17:6–26) _______________________________________________________________________

Poinsett remarks, “Knowing that Jesus is interceding takes away the loneliness and spreads out the responsibility.” Comment on her statement based on Hebrews 4:14–16.  ___________________________________________________________________________

How does knowing that “Jesus ‘put on skin’ and walked around on earth dealing with human circumstances and difficulties,” affect your perspective of His ability to plead your case in heaven? ________________________________________________________________________________

Action Steps

Read the following Scriptures: Matthew 4:1–11; 11:25–27; 14:23; Mark 1:35; 6:46; Luke 5:16; 6:12–13; 9:28; 10:21–22; 22:41–44; 23:34. Based on the priority Jesus gave to prayer in His own life, what new or renewed perspective do you have regarding the necessity of prayer?

What will you do in response to what the Holy Spirit is speaking to you?

SANDRA HIGLEY is the author of several Scripture prayer guides that come in bookmark form, including “Prayers of Repentance,” “Partnering with God in the Struggle over Sin,” and “Life-Giving Prayers for Your Church.”