Pray instead of talk


By Erik Farstad

February 11, 1998


"‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed." John 16:33-17:1

In John 16:16-33, Jesus teaches us how to pray in His name. He shared how this world will have times of trouble, and in those times we need to pray to God in His name, in Jesus’ name. What does He do immediately afterward? Prays! He talked about it, then He does it. He was done talking, so He started praying. He is the ultimate example we need to follow.

John 17 is Jesus’ entire prayer to God. He begins by praying for Himself, then His disciples and then for future believers. Jesus patterned for us a great way to pray. Don’t get me wrong, there is no right or wrong way. But don’t you think following what Jesus did is probably a good idea? You could follow His lead by also praying for yourself, then say your friends and family and then those who you are witnessing to or for the opportunity to be a witness. However you do it is fine, the important thing is that you pray.

You can talk about prayer, say how important it is, but are you doing it? The time you spend praying should at least equal or double the amount of time you spend talking about it’s importance.

Having trouble praying? Like anything, the more you do it the easier it becomes. Prayer only works if you do it. That is why this devotional is ending now...so let us pray, enough talk!

In Him, "E"