Pray at All Times

He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

–Hebrews 7:25

All our reservations about prayer melt away when we look at the greatest example of prayer in the Bible: the life of Jesus Christ. For Jesus, prayer was as regular as breathing. It was the secret to the supernatural power in His life. To be like Jesus, we need to develop a praying heart.

We see the emphasis Jesus placed on prayer by His example. For Jesus, prayer was not optional; it was essential to His relationship with God. Jesus prayed before every significant event in His life, including His miracles, the calling of His apostles, and His crucifixion. And Jesus’s primary activity in heaven is praying. Hebrews 7:25 says that Jesus “always lives to make intercession” for us. Right now, Jesus is praying to God the Father for you. He is praying for your forgiveness. He is praying for God’s protection on your life. He is praying for God’s direction in your life.

Jesus showed us the importance of prayer not only by His example but also in His teaching. Luke 18:1 says, “[Jesus] was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.” I don’t know about you, but when difficulties come into my life, I think I need to do something practical to take care of the problem. But Jesus said the most important thing we can do when we run into trouble is to pray and not lose heart.

Then He told a parable about a widow who goes to an unrighteous judge day and night to seek protection. The judge doesn’t fear God or respect other people. Yet finally, the judge relents, saying that the widow is wearing him out. Then Jesus made the application: “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night?” (vv. 6–7).

Jesus was saying that if an unrighteous judge can be moved to act on behalf of somebody he doesn’t care about, then how much more will our righteous and loving God do for His children who cry to Him for assistance? We need to pray at all times and not lose heart–not just when the answer seems easy and obvious, but even during the difficult times when the answer seems impossible.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “Developing a Praying Heart” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2008.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.