— Prayer Guides —

How To Pray: 8 Examples Of How Jesus Prayed

March 31, 2019

There are many examples of how Jesus prayed throughout the Bible. When you look at what Jesus prayed, and how he prayed, you can better understand how to pray yourself, by using Jesus as your example!

Let’s look at one of Jesus’s most well-known prayers–his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prayed in this garden just hours before he was crucified and died on the cross.

Jesus Prays In The Garden

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Matthew 26: 36-46

8 Examples of How Jesus Prayed

Who could be a better person to learn how to pray from than from Jesus?

1. Jesus got away from other people to pray.

“..Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

It’s important to have prayer time with just you and God. Get away from everyone and everybody else. Go into your prayer closet or your “war room.” I find I can be much more intimate and safe with my prayers when I am truly alone with Jesus. I am not worried about what anyone else is thinking when it’s just me and him. I also love writing in a prayer journal.

2. Jesus fell on his face while he prayed.

“..he fell with his face to the ground and prayed”

I don’t believe it’s a requirement to kneel when you pray, however sometimes I have found myself just naturally doing this as I am in deep prayer. For me, there is something reverent about doing this.

3. Christ prayed for the Father’s will to be done

“…Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Have you ever heard someone pray, for “the Lord’s will” to be done? It’s a prayer that isn’t prayed much anymore by the universal church, but I believe it should be. And Christ set this example and foundation for us by praying this. I encourage you to always, always pray for the Lord’s will to be done. He knows what is best for us. And he has a plan set before us.

4. Jesus prayed three times in one night for the same thing.

“..So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time.”

 How often do we pray just once and expect it to be “enough?”

So many times in my own life, I have prayed for someone or something just one time, and thought, “Okay, well I prayed for that person, and I said I would, so that’s that.” I could “check” it off my list. But when Jesus prayed, he prayed again and again and again!

Jesus Prays On The Mount Of Olives

Shortly before Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, he prayed on the Mount of Olives. His disciples followed him there.

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[c]
45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Luke 22: 39-46

5. Christ taught his disciples to “Pray that they may not enter temptation.”

“…pray that you will not fall into temptation.”

To be honest, I rarely pray this prayer. But I certainly need to. We are tempted often (sometimes daily) and I can only imagine how much different our lives would be if we actively and intentionally prayed to not be led into temptation. I’m reminded of the end of the “Lord’s Prayer” which says, “and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one..”

The Lord’s Prayer- Matthew Chapter 6

Matthew 6 is literally Jesus teaching us how we should pray. Let’s take a look at this chapter, break it down, and learn how to pray from reading it.

(I think it’s interesting to note that Jesus actually takes the time to teach his followers how to pray.  He knows that maybe we don’t know how to pray, so Jesus himself teaches us! For that, I am really thankful.)

Matthew Chapter 6

Prayer
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6: 5-8

6. Don’t Pray To Impress Others

“And when you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.”

If you are praying in private like mentioned earlier, than this point is kind of nullified. Make sure you aren’t praying to be seen and acknowledge by others.

7. Christ tells us the Father already knows what we need

“…..your Father knows what you need before you even ask him.”

Reading this particular verse brings me so much comfort. It is a nice reminder to know that our Father knows our needs—even if we forget to pray about them. Sometimes I worry that I am forgetting something important when I pray, but I can find peace in the fact that my heavenly father knows what I need–before I even ask him.

8. You don’t have to be “fancy” with your prayers

“..And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”

I think this verse is basically telling us you don’t have to be fancy, you don’t have to act like somebody you are not when you pray.

Don’t worry whether or not you are “praying the right way.”  You don’t have to spit out a bunch of “thees and thous” or other fancy words.  The Lord knows your need. Talk to him!

The Lord’s Prayer

“This, then, is how you should pray…”

The Lord’s Prayer

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
    but deliver us from the evil one.[b]”s

Matthew 6: 9 – 13

Our Father, in Heaven 

Hallowed be your name

(Your name alone is Holy)

Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done  

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

(Not my will, but yours, Lord. Not my plan, but yours. I am trusting YOU.)

Give us this day, our daily bread

(I pray that you would provide my needs.)

And forgive us of our sins

As we also forgive one another

(Ask him for forgiveness. Ask him to help you forgive others, and be sure to really forgive them!)

And lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

(Just like Jesus prayed before he went into the garden, ask to be delivered from Evil. Ask to be protected from the enemy.)

Other Resources and Prayer Guides

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Prayer journals give you a place to write out your prayers, and even your questions to God.

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52 thoughts on “How To Pray: 8 Examples Of How Jesus Prayed”

      1. Wow! Thank you so much for this! It was so helpful and yet so simple ❤️Loved it. I will share this. Truly a blessing

    2. Thank you for telling me how to pray. I always think that God don’t here my prayer. Because I couldn’t never pray like my sister pray. I just talk to my father. But you show me tonight as long as it comes from my heart . It ok God bless you and think you

  2. It is a blessing to see that someone wrote an article about Jesus example to pray. There are prexious few people who actually pray in this nation anymore. People tell me as an artist to “get a job” when they dont see or care the work I’ve put in using the artistic gifts in film and writing. Not that we shouldnt work and utilize that which He provides us to practically provide. But there is a big problem when people don’t apply and pray actively. That should be our constant job as Christian soldiers. I was asked about a year or so ago by a non Christian “How do Christians pray?” At first, since they were quite new, I didn’t want to complicate things so I told them talk to God and lay out your heart in genuine conversation and expect an answer back (whether its through hearing it in your heart or through scripture or Him speaking through other people). However, it got me to thinking what Jesus Himself told us to pray about. Although the Lord’s prayer is taught from the pulpit…WHAT Jesus told us to pray is not taught. Having written the article you have, I thought you might find this excerpt from my own article– of interest:
    Jesus told us (directly) to pray about the Tribulation:

    Directly:

    1. Pray it not be in winter

    2. Pray it not be on Shabbat/Sabbath.

    Reference: Matthew 24:20, Mark 13:8

    My Suggestion:

    3. Pray He will find faith (trusting Him is important and precious. He wants us to).

    Reference: Luke 18:8

    Jesus told us and exemplified to pray with this heart to the Father:

    1. All things are possible for You (God)

    2. If you are willing, have mercy on me, a sinner. (If we say we are without sin, the truth is not in us)

    Reference: Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, Mark 14:36, Luke 18:13

    Jesus exemplified us to pray for our brothers and sisters in Him and over ourselves and our lives:

    (I personally also encourage praying this over friends and family, though many will choose to reject Christ and accept the mark of the beast and will be lost at that point. There still will remain a remnant of Spiritual family in Jesus.)

    1. Pray for the strength/to be counted worthy to escape all these things that are about to take place.

    2. Pray your faith (and the faith of those around you as the Body, His Bride) not fail. (As Jesus prayed for Peter)

    3. Pray that you not enter temptation.

    4. Pray for sanctification in the Truth.

    5. Pray to be kept in Jesus Name

    6. Pray to be kept from the evil one.

    Reference: Luke 21:36, Luke 22:32, Luke 22:40, Mark 13:48, Matthew 26:41, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Corinthians 1:28-31, John 17:17, Ephesians 5:26, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Peter 3:15, John 17:11, John 1:12, John 20:31, Acts 3:16, Revelation 22:4, Matthew 6:13, Luke 11:4, John 17:15

    1. Wow. Thank you so so much for your encouragement and for taking the time to write such a detailed and referenced comment. I absolutely love what you wrote! Excellent point about praying over friends and family. That is something I personally feel I need to do more of.

  3. I love this and needed it so much! Thank you! I hope to share with my church kids. I never really thought we should be taught how to pray but we really do.

  11. I’m praising God this Sabbath Day for showing me this article. I’m struggling how to pray the right way. Thank you so much for letting God use you in His ministry to bless others.

  12. Thank you so much for this! It was very helpful!I have been struggling with prayer lately. Praise God for your ministry. Blessings to you!

  13. I enjoyed reading your post and thanks for sharing. I have a question that I have been struggling with for a little while, why should we continue to pray if God already has a plan and His will shall be done?

  22. Hi!!A very big Bula to you!! That is how we say hi here in Fiji!! Very blessed for what the Almighty has installed in you to break down the in depth of the importance of PRAYER and it’s significance to the life of a believer of Christ the Almighty Saviour!!! Thank you for your feedback in this very important part of a Christianity that we need to take heed of the importance of prayer!! God Bless you always!!!🙏🙏🙏

  26. Hello Leah and Danielle

    Thank you for sharing some of your prayer secrets and strategies. I have been studying prayer for over 12 years. It still fascinates me.

    Sharon

  27. Will you please pray for me? I know this isn’t the place for it but my wife of 23 years and my son has abandoned me, they chose the world.and are unforgiving of my mistakes but I forgive them. My life without them is empty.

    1. Please pray for me too. My husband of 22 years left me and our kids to live with another woman. I forgive too. But I’m so heartbroken. I know your hurt, and I’m praying for you. Hang in there! ❤️

  28. Michael, I’m so sorry you’re hurting! My husband of 22 years just left me and our kids to move in with another woman. He had been cheating on me for years. I just found out about everything. It was horrible! There were many other women and loads more heartbreak. I know your pain. At least a little part of it. I don’t think anyone can describe or understand someone’s hurt that’s way down deep inside. I’m praying for you. Just wanted you to know that you got a prayer warrior, and that you’re not alone! Please say a little prayer for me too. 💜🙏

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