Today is the 9th day of Lent, a 40 day season of spiritual reflection, repentance, and renewal. During these 40 days we’ll explore the prayer life of Jesus, walking chronologically through every mention of Jesus’ prayer life and prayers in the Gospels.
Here is today’s prayer event: 18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” (Luke 9:18-20 ESV)
This is the first of two occasions in Luke 9 on which perception is preceded by prayer. Here, Peter’s perception that Jesus is truly the promised Christ/Messiah (rather than a resurrected prophet) is preceded by Jesus “praying alone.” Luke would not have gone to the trouble to show us Jesus praying alone prior to Peter’s confession if there was only a coincidental link between the two. Could it be that Jesus’ prayer (here and elsewhere) allowed Peter to see something of Jesus’ heart and that this contributed significantly to Peter believing that Jesus was the Christ? Perhaps this prayer which Peter either observed or overheard became a tipping point that led Peter to finally understand who Jesus really was.
How about you? What conclusions do you tend to draw when you watch or listen to someone praying? What conclusions would someone draw about you if they could watch or listen to you pray for the next seven days? What does your prayer-life reveal about you?
SHARE WITH OTHER READERS BELOW ONE POSITIVE THING AND ONE NEGATIVE THING WHICH YOUR PRAYER LIFE MIGHT REVEAL ABOUT YOU TO SOMEONE WATCHING/LISTENING…
[image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nhardin/2566785010/]
I am afraid that people might hear me begging for God’s help alot more than they would hear me praising him or thanking him.
On a positive note… They would her me petition for others.
When I hear the prayers of my friend John, I know he is “linked in” (so to speak) and on a whole different level than my own prayer life is at this point.
I have occassion to pray publically for many folks most days. The temptation is to be so self-focused about how I pray, what I say, etc., that I forget just what or why it is you are praying. I must guard against that. I believe a simple yet faltering prayer in faith (publican) is better than a showman’s (pharisee) prayer any day.
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