At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Matthew 11:25-30 (NLT)

This past Sunday we began looking at the Prayers Jesus Prayed in the Gospels.

In Matthew 11:25-30, Jesus prays regarding humility, his role in the Trinity, and then afterword makes his famous statement that his “yoke is easy and his burden is light.” What does observing Jesus’ prayer and his statement teach us about prayer?  I would suggest 3 simple things:

  1. Humility is the basis of all biblical prayer and the starting point for any effective praying we do (God reveals Himself not to the humanly wise, but He works through the humble)
  2. Christian prayer is through Jesus (the Father knows the Son and the Son knows the Father)
  3. True prayer is freeing and life-giving, not a “chore and a bore”

Some questions that were shared in the service to guide us into more meaningful prayer during Lent:

  • What do you want to ask God for today?
  • What’s your stance? Are you humble?  Or do you know better than God does?
  • Are you willing to sit in God’s lap and receive from him?
  • Perhaps this morning you want to pray, “Jesus, reveal the Father to me”
  • What are the heavy burdens you are carrying?
  • Are you letting Jesus teach you?
  • Are you letting Jesus walk with you?
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