The Guardian (Nigeria)

Biblical Womanhood

- By Emeritus Prof. Mercy Olumide

He "was praying" just before He taught the disciples the Lord's Prayer (11:1). In Gethsemane He "prayed more earnestly" (22:44); on the cross He prayed for others (23:34); and the last word He uttered before His death was a prayer (23:46). Luke also records that Jesus prayed after His resurrecti­on (24:30).

2. In examining the life of Jesus in the other gospels, we note that He prayed before extending the invitation: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden," (Mat 11:25-28); He prayed at Lazarus's tomb (John 11:41–42) and during the institutio­n of the Lord's Supper (John 17). “And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there,” (Mat 14:23). Prayed … alone. While on earth, Jesus often sought time to be alone with God (cf. Mark 1:35; 6:46; Luke 5:16; 6:12; 9:18; 22:41-42; Heb 5:7). Time alone with God is essential to spiritual wellbeing. The lack of desire for solitary prayer to and communion with our heavenly Father is an unmistakab­le sign that our spiritual lives are in decline. When this happens, we must turn from all that offends the Lord and renew our commitment to seeking God and His grace for our daily lives (see Luke 18:1).

Paul’s Request (Read Eph 6:18-20; Col 4:2-4)

“Praying always with all prayer and supplicati­on in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseveran­ce and supplicati­on for all the saints — 19: And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel. 20: For which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak,” (Eph 6:18-20). • Email:mercyolumi­de2004@yahoo.co.uk. www.thebiblica­lwomanhood.commobile: +234 803

“So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed “

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