Praying like Jesus!
Mark 14:32-38
By Ysrael De la Cruz
Maybe you got to read or heard about a list of books by Ostormie Omartian, the power of a praying husband, wife, parent. Etc. Most of us pray when we are in trouble. The Bible calls us to pray when we are in trouble or suffering. James 5:13
The Bible also tells us to not be anxious about anything but to pray presenting your requests to God. Philippians 4:6. When do you find yourself praying the most? Do you rarely pray? Or is prayer very important in your life?
Prayer was an integral part of church in the first century. The first Christians were devoted to the teaching of the apostles, to being together and to prayer.
Jesus taught the apostles how to pray and he modeled prayer while he was with them. Very often Jesus would withdraw by himself to commune, talk to the father.
There is a particular prayer Jesus uttered that I want us to examine for it can truly help us to pray more effectively.
When the Bible talks about Jesus, it portrays him as divine, but also as human. The Son of God speaks of Jesus divinity; and the title Son of man speaks of Jesus’ humanity.
In the text today, you can clearly see his humanity. Mark 14:32-38
This was after he had the last supper with his disciples. He went with them to the garden of Gethsemane. Sit here while I pray.(v.32)
He took with him Peter, James and John.

Jesus began to be greatly distressed and troubled (v.33)
“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch. (v.34)
Jesus felt overwhelmed by what was about to happen. He knew the hour was near to face death. Even Jesus experienced trouble times, stressful moments. Jesus can sympathize with our weaknesses because he was also human. (Hebrews 4:15); he experienced the same things we do, he was tempted as we are yet he was without sin.
Here we can clearly see the human Jesus wrestling with what laid ahead. He was grieved (sorrowful) to the point of death. And what did he do? He prayed.
When we are troublesome, stressed out, we should pray to God.
Notice Jesus’s prayer to the Father and see how we can learn to pray like him.

Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. (Jesus spoke to the Father, Abba (daddy) and recognized that all things are possible for God). When you pray you must know the one you are praying to. You must show faith that he is able to all things. When you pray, you must trust the one you are praying to. Why would you ask God to do something for you if you don’t believe he is able to do it?

So before you even approach God in prayer believe he is able to change your situation. Then present your request to him.
Petition. Jesus’ petition was to remove this cup from him. “Remove this cup from me.” The cup Jesus was about to drink was a bitter one. He would be betrayed into the hands of sinners and be killed for the salvation of the world. He would experience abandonment from his Father as he carried the sins of the world.
So Jesus asked the Father if possible to remove this from him. It is as if he was asking the Father if there was another way, but there wasn’t.
This was Jesus’ request to the Father.
The Bible encourages us to bring our request and petitions to God. Philippians 4:6 DO not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God , which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Faith, Petition or request
You must ask believing God is able to do the impossible. You must present your situation to him. Lord you know my problem; please change my situation; do not let me go through that, help me please….

Surrendering to the will of God.
Jesus presented his request but said, do not as I will, but your will be done. He surrendered himself to whatever God would do in his situation.
We too must learn to pray like Jesus in surrendering our desires and wills to his will. Lord I would really like for you to help me with this problem; remove it from me, but yet not my will but yours be done on this situation.

The will of the Father was for the Son to suffer and die for the sins of the world.

When you pray remember to ask in faith, believing that the one whom you are asking is powerful and able to change your situation and do more than we could ask or imagine. When you believe then ask, petition what you would like to see change; present your requests to God and finally surrender to his will. Lord may your will be done in this situation. Amen.