In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. – Hebrews 5:7-8
As I was reading Hebrews this week, this passage really stood out to me. I believe prayer is so important and sadly so many believers struggle with it. I began to ponder how Jesus prayed.
First, I have to point out Jesus, our Savior, the King of Kings, the Perfect, and Holy One prayed. If he prayed and felt the need to pray, we certainly do! Second, how did he pray? He prayed loudly pouring His heart out to His Father. Jesus spoke up with confidence in his prayers. He was fully assured that it was okay to express His feelings and concerns to the Father. He cried, pouring His heart out to God the Father. He did not hold anything back. God can handle our sadness, our fears, and our concerns. He wants us to share them with Him. Yes, He knows them already, but He wants to hear from His children. It is okay to pour our heart out and show our emotions as we pray. God wants us to be real with Him.
Third, I noticed it says “to him who was able to save him from death.” Notice it did not say to him who may be able. No, He knew God was able! Jesus prayed with complete assurance of who God the Father was. He is all powerful, all knowing, and nothing is impossible for Him. Jesus prayed with that complete confidence and so should we. James 1:6-8 reminds us of this when we pray, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” When we pray, do it without doubting. Don’t doubt who God is and what He is capable of, or that He can do it. When we do, we are double minded. We need to be single minded about God. He wants us to be confident in Him and to believe He is who He says He is. Do you really believe and are you praying with that belief?
The fourth thing that stood out to me was “he was heard because of his reverence.” When we pray, are we showing reverence for God? Reverence is a deep respect and awe. Have we become lukewarm? Do we pray offhandedly or out of ritual? Or do we still have that same awe we had as a new believer? Do we show God respect for who He is or are we taking Him for granted? Jesus continually revered God and it showed in His prayers.
Lastly, He learned obedience through what He suffered. Suffering is certainly a word that most avoid. No one wants to suffer. Suffering is perceived as something to be avoided at all costs. However, we see so much good come from it. In this scripture we see it teaches us to be obedient, and if you’re a parent, you have seen that to be true as you raise your children. We have salvation because of it (Hebrews 5:9). Joseph learned to be and became a great leader and was able to save his family because of it(Genesis 37-50). I have always loved what Romans 5:3-5 reminds us of what suffering can do “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Suffering can be used for good, trust God in it and through it.
I pray that we all learn to pray like Jesus, pouring our hearts out to God in complete honesty, openness, reverence, and trust in Him.
Written by Rebecca Murzin
