Today’s Reading: Matthew 20:20-28; Mark 11:22-25
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” – Mark 11:22-25
What is heavy on your heart? What are you praying for right now? What do you need to see God do? Who do you need to forgive in order to receive the forgiveness of God? This morning’s study on prayer continues where we left off yesterday.
Jesus taught us to pray – to bring our requests to God.
Jesus taught us how to pray – with SHAMELESS PERSISTENCE.
Jesus taught us to pray from a place of hope — with HUMBLE EXPECTATION.
Jesus taught us to pray from a place of faith — with CONFIDENT BOLDNESS.
Pray boldly…
Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. “What is your request?” he asked.
She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”
But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”
“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” – Matthew 20:20-22
What is your reaction to this confident boldness displayed by James and John? Our first reaction is to judge their request, but their heart’s desire is revealed in Jesus’ question for them and their eager response to that question. Jesus, if you are going to be arrested, let them arrest me too. Jesus, if you are going to suffer, let me suffer alongside you. They were willing to suffer for Christ and they longed to be as close to Jesus as possible, in life and in death.
Pray sacrificially…
Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or on my left. My father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”
When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:23-28
We learn from Matthew 20 that God wants us to pray with a confident boldness that comes from a heart of faith — a heart that is willing to suffer for Christ and a heart that is humbly prepared to serve others.
Pray from a heart willing to serve…
When we are confidently bringing our requests to God, it is worth examining our hearts. What place do our prayers come from; what intentions motivate our words? Are we praying from the heart of a sacrificial servant? At times it is incredibly difficult to pray from a place of submission, praying as Jesus taught us — may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Lord, give us the confidence to pray with boldness and give us the strength to bow our will to yours. Lord, hear us when we pray today. We beg you to consider our requests and see the desires of our heart.