Jesus prays for his friends in the Garden of Gethsemane that they may be one as he is one with the Father. He asks that they may be protected in the uncertain times they face and made holy so they are set apart from the world’s unbelief – by the truth about who Jesus is.
Praying is an important part of our discipleship journey.
The way in which Jesus prays helps us to understand the magnitude and potential of prayer. It is not a formula of words, but an ongoing conversation and relationship with God and Jesus that helps to inform and shape everything that we are and everything that we do.
There are many different ways to pray. There are lots of different books on praying, I have many different ones including books on creative prayers, using all sorts of items such as candles and paper chains etc. There are also lots of websites online that have lots of different ideas. Prayers can display lots of emotions, including angry prayers.
God listens to them all, he is there for everyone.
A couple of years ago I went to Methodist central Hall where I heard Paul Field singing. One of his songs – God of the Moon and Stars – touched my heart This song tells us that prayer is for everyone. Also, that God is a God for everyone, he is there for all no matter what their History is.
Let us pray, God who came to us in the form of a baby. He came so that we can live life eternal. Jesus Christ our hope, our light, our strength and our song.
Amen.