Giving prayer its place

It's common to see prayer as a way to handle emergencies.

Or maybe as a booster rocket to help get projects off the ground.

But viewing prayer this way tends to make it mechanical.

And different from the way prayer functioned in Jesus's life.

With Him, prayer is ongoing engagement with the Father...

And at the heart of accomplishing His life's mission.

By it, He not only continually related to the Father, but...

Made decisions... like choosing the disciples.

Interceded for others... like praying for Peter's faith.

And stayed faithful... like in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Observing the place of prayer in Jesus's life reveals the need to elevate it in our own.

Prayer was essential for Him to accomplish His mission.

Similarly, we cannot stay the course and fulfill our own mission without it.