College Admissions Essay: A Prayer Of Jesus

"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples'" Luke 1:11

"God is great, God is good. Let us thank Him for our food Amen". I had it down in 2 seconds flat as a child at my grandmother's house on Sundays when we sat down to eat Sunday dinner. Rarely did I get the word "amen" out of my mouth before my brother and I would dive in to get the first chicken leg. My quick prayer was a habitual, recited, hurried ritual rather than a thankful prayer to God for His provisions.

What I did not know as a child was how Jesus is not impressed with our emimg_1040pty words and repetitive, heartless prayers. A child reciting a prayer is cherished and delightful, ..." but when I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I grew up, I put the ways of childhood

Should we bow on our knees? Say certain words or phrases? Pray at certain times of the day? To answer these questions let us look at the ways Jesus prayed as well as how Gods Word says.

In Mark 1;35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed, Jesus started His day with prayer, alone in a quite place. How can we follow His example? We could spend a few moments every morning upon arriving and before the hustle and bustle of life praying. My experience shows that starting the day with Jesus certainly is powerful.

Next, turn to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Paul says " Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Paul did not mean stay on your knees all day but to reverence God throughout the day in fellowship with Him through the Holy Spirit. Carry on with a thankful heart knowing nothing that you experience that day does not flow through the precious hand of our loving