I hate to admit it, but I’ve been around people whose prayers annoy me. Have you ever had that experience? Perhaps their prayers seem flippant, or they have verbal tics, or they don’t leave space for anyone else, or their language turns stilted when they start to pray. Have you ever wondered if your prayers annoy God?  

 

Believe it or not, Jesus seems to indicate that is the case. Twice in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus warns us how not to pray: “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others” (Matt. 6:5). He continues, “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Matt. 6:7).

 

In the Old Testament, God has similar responses to those who pray hypocritical prayers (“When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood” (Is. 1:15)). God likewise dismisses those who pray while ignoring or oppressing the poor (Prov. 21:13 and Is. 58:2-4) or those who pray while engaging in idolatry (Ez. 8:17-18).

 

Anyone who has a relationship with God longs for a deep and a rich prayer life. No one wants to annoy God or have their prayers unheard.

 

Jesus’ prayers

 

In our last post we considered how Paul would coach us in our prayer life. Today we will consider Jesus’ prayers and how he might coach us. Approximately twenty-three times Jesus prays in the gospels (the number varies on how you group the passages). Here are his prayers:

1. Prayers of Thanksgiving (2)

1. “At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will (Matt 11:25-26)  (see also Lk 10:21) 

2. “So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me” (John 11:41-42) 

2. Prayers of Blessing Over Food (5)

1. “He took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds” (Matthew 15:36) (see also Mk. 8:6-7).

2. “Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing” (Matthew 14:19)  / (see also Mk. 6:41, Lk. 9:16, Jn. 6:11).

3. “When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them” (Lk. 24:30).

4. “Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you’” (Matt. 26:26-27) (see also Mk. 14:22-23, Lk. 22:17-19).

3. Prayers for Others (4)

1. “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again”” (Jn. 12:27-28).

2. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,[d] that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Lk. 22:31-32).

3. “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. 6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.[a] 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them[b] in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself,[c] that they also may be sanctified[d] in truth. 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (Jn. 17:1-26).

4. “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34).

4. Personal Prayers (5)

1. “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven,
   hallowed be your name.[a]
   10 Your kingdom come,
   your will be done,[b]
       on earth as it is in heaven.
   11 Give us this day our daily bread,[c]
   12 and forgive us our debts,
       as we also have forgiven our debtors.
   13 And lead us not into temptation,
       but deliver us from evil” (Matt. 6:9-13) (see also Lk. 11:1-4).

2. “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (Mk. 1:35) (see also Lk. 5:16).

3. “In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles” (Lk 6:12-13).

4. “Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”” (Lk. 9:18).

5. “Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white” (Lk. 9:28-29)

6. “And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone” (Matt. 14:23) (see also Mk. 6:46)

5. Prayers of Anguish in Gethsemane (3)

1. “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will’” (Matt. 26:39) (see also Mk. 14:36 and Lk. 22:42).

2. “Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done’” (Matt. 26:42)

3. “So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again” (Matt. 26:44)

6. Prayers on the Cross (4)

1. “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Lk. 23:34).

2. “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”” (Matt. 27:46) (see also Mk. 15:34).

3. “Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last” (Lk. 23:46).

4. “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (Jn. 19:30).

 

What we can learn from Jesus

Jesus’ prayer life is both a model and a challenge to us. He prayed with deep intimacy, unwavering trust, persistent dependence, and kingdom focus—qualities that often contrast with how we tend to pray. Here are key lessons we can learn from how Jesus prayed and how His approach differs from ours:

1. Jesus prayed intimately

Our prayers can be stilted and formal, or as though we are praying to the air. Jesus addressed God as Abba, Father (Mk. 14:36), showing a close and loving relationship. Our Triune God is both holy and also deeply personal. Prayer is not just about asking for things but resting in the Father’s presence.

2. Jesus prayed with surrender

We often try to persuade God to do what we want rather than submitting to his will. In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, "Not my will, but yours be done." (Lk. 22:42). Jesus teaches us to pray in a posture of surrender, trusting that God's plan is always best—even when it leads through suffering.

3. Jesus prayed persistently

It’s easy to give up on prayer requests. But Jesus prayed all night before choosing his disciples (Lk. 6:12), all night in Gethsemane (Mt. 26:39-44), and often withdrew to lonely places to pray (Lk. 5:16). Jesus tells us the parable of the persistent widow (Lk. 18:1-8) to urge us to “cry to him day and night” (Lk. 18:7). May we be those whose prayers do not come and go, but persevere.

4. Jesus prayed when life was going well

Our spiritual life is often most in danger when things are going well for us. It is in moments when everything is going well that our spiritual life often wanes. When his ministry was at its height, Jesus frequently withdrew to pray alone (Mk. 1:35). Jesus carved out time to pray knowing his ministry was dependent on his relationship with his Father.

5. Jesus prayed for others

Jesus was attuned to how those around him were doing. He interceded for Peter (Lk. 22:31-32), and his disciples (Jn. 17:6-19), and tended to the physical and spiritual needs of countless individuals. Jesus’ longest recorded prayer was after the Last Supper on the way to Gethsemane. In that extended prayer (Jn 17), Jesus prays deeply for unity and for love among his followers.

6. Jesus prayed with thanksgiving

Do your prayers sometimes turn into personal shopping lists? Jesus’ prayers were marked by gratitude. He thanked the Father before performing miracles (Jn. 11:41), before meals (Matt. 14:19), and in his teachings (Lk. 10:21).

7. Jesus prayed with expectancy

It can be easy to pray faithless prayers, prayers that lack hope or faith. We might pray because we know it’s the right thing, but not trust that God will respond to our prayers. Jesus prayed knowing the Father always heard him (Jn. 11:42). God is attentive to his children (Matt. 7:7-11). He hears and responds to every prayer.

8. Jesus prayed in his greatest pain

When you are suffering, do your prayers ever dry up? Do you grow bitter toward God? Jesus prayed as he anticipated the spiritual and physical cost in Gethsemane (Lk. 22:42). On the cross, he prayed for his enemies (Lk. 23:34) and cried out in anguish (Mt27:46). In his deepest suffering, Jesus drew closest to his Father. God welcomes our raw, honest prayers and comforts us in our suffering (2 Cor. 1).

 Conclusion

Jesus’ prayer life challenges us to deepen our intimacy, surrender our will, persist in prayer, intercede for others, give thanks, pray expectantly, and seek God in suffering.

 

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