Prayer -- The Example of Jesus

In John chapter 17 we can read a short prayer offered by Jesus to God the Father. I say "short," because it only takes a few minutes to read it. This is the best example of prayer we can find in the Bible. In it we can see all the elements we should include in our prayers to God. 

In verses 1-5, Jesus prays for Himself. 

In verses 6-19, He prays for those closest to Him, the apostles. 

In verses 20-26, he prays for others; specifically, His future followers, the church. 

Could there be a better model prayer? It was brief, personal, and specific. We should pray for ourselves, those especially dear to us, and for God's people. 

Jesus was concerned about you and me and He included us in His prayer. Notice what He said in verses 20 and 21, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." 

Let us learn how to pray from Jesus. Let us be brief, personal, and specific, and let us pray often, as He did. Our lives will be much better when we pray and allow God to be part of our everyday life.