Can prayer change things?
Things certainly changed as Jesus prayed! The appearance of his face, his clothes, his companions----they all changed. That must have been some prayer!
The prayers Jesus prayed need not be a mystery to us. Though many times it is simply reported that Jesus "went off to a solitary place, where he prayed" (Mark 1:35), there are other occasions where his prayers were recorded. His prayers were filled with praise (Matthew 11:25) and thanks (John 11:41). His prayers were for his Father's will to be done (Luke 22:42) and for the safety of believers (John 17). And when he taught us the Lord's Prayer, he surely made plain his idea of what prayers should be like.
Did he, and should we, pray for spectacular changes like those that happened on the Mount of Transfiguration? Consider what happened as Jesus prayed. The disciples had their faith strengthened. And the witness they bore continues to strengthen the faith of believers. If on that day the Father chose to answer Jesus' prayer for these blessings with spectacular changes, that is his wisdom and grace. We praise and thank him for it. We can hardly demand it for our own prayers.
The prayers Jesus prayed need not be a mystery to us. Though many times it is simply reported that Jesus "went off to a solitary place, where he prayed" (Mark 1:35), there are other occasions where his prayers were recorded. His prayers were filled with praise (Matthew 11:25) and thanks (John 11:41). His prayers were for his Father's will to be done (Luke 22:42) and for the safety of believers (John 17). And when he taught us the Lord's Prayer, he surely made plain his idea of what prayers should be like.
Did he, and should we, pray for spectacular changes like those that happened on the Mount of Transfiguration? Consider what happened as Jesus prayed. The disciples had their faith strengthened. And the witness they bore continues to strengthen the faith of believers. If on that day the Father chose to answer Jesus' prayer for these blessings with spectacular changes, that is his wisdom and grace. We praise and thank him for it. We can hardly demand it for our own prayers.
© 2024 Created by Raliegh Jones Jr..
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