I think we all want to know what makes for effective prayer. Looking at how Jesus modelled and taught prayer really helps keep the noise away from what others may suggest. Here is a perspective that speaks into the effectiveness of Jesus’ prayer. The reflection is based on the time of Jesus being in the garden of Gethsemane.

In his life on earth Jesus made his prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God, who could save him from death. Because he was humble and devoted, God heard him. But even though he was God’s Son, he learned through his sufferings to be obedient. When he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. Hebrews 5:7-9 GNT

Loud cries and tears matter. Obviously not the manufactured kind, but rather the constancy and the intensity. Prayer is hard work, for when it is genuine it involves honest seeking after the will of God which begins a wrestling match with our own desires – resulting in bringing everything together with the good and gracioius will of God. The end result is not seeking my own way but how to glorify God.

I know I am pointing out the obvious, but just in case there is any doubt about who we are praying to – there is no other who can save other than God. It has nothing to do with my eloquence or the number of people that have gathered to pray or because of my fasting. I have the privilege to come to my Father in prayer. The power of prayer is the name of Jesus who enables me to pray and it is through His name that God hears and anwers me. My prayers to the God who could save Jesus from death were answered by Jesus’ death.

The key thought that grabs my attention right away is the one sentence that describes why God heard Him – He was humble and devoted. Sounds like the model words Jesus used to teach His disciples – Your will be done – and how he ended His prayer in the garden – not My will, but Yours. If I am really to be serious about praying in faith I will need to find myself willing to submit to the will of my heavenly Father.

Spurgeon – Our blessed Lord was in such a condition that He pleaded out of weakness with the God who was able to save. When our Lord was compassed with the weakness of flesh He was much in prayer. It would be an interesting exercise for the younger people to note all the times in which the Lord Jesus is said to have prayed. The occasions recorded are very numerous; but these are no doubt merely a few specimens of a far greater number. Jesus was habitually in prayer; He was praying even when His lips did not utter a sound. His heart was always in communion with the Great Father above. This is said to have been the case “in the days of his flesh.” This term is used to distinguish His life on earth from His former estate in glory. From of old the Son of God dwelt with the Father; but He was not then a partaker of human nature, and the eternal ages were not “the days of his flesh.” Then He could not have entered into that intimate sympathy with us that He now exercises since He has been born at Bethlehem and has died at Calvary. “The days of his flesh” intend this mortal life—the days of His weakness, humiliation, labor, and suffering. It is true that He wears our nature in heaven, for He said to His disciples after His resurrection, “Touch me and see; because a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have” (Luke 24:39). But yet we should not call the period of His exaltation at the right hand of the Father “the days of his flesh.” He prays still: in fact, He continually makes intercession for the transgressors; but it is in another style from that in which He prayed “in the days of his flesh.”

I pray with godly fear – humble and devoted – so that my prayer reflects – not my way, but Yours. That is the prayer that was answered in the garden – God’s way happened. I notice that and it does bother me that my suffering may be in line with the will of God. If so, is that why I find myself tempted not to pray? Is it not true that I prefer not to suffer for that would betray my idols and my false gods? Am I in fact praying, when suffering, that my false gods are to be restored to me? For instance, if I am ill, am I praying for healing because the injury has robbed me of the health I have trusted in? When I pray for deliverance, am I praying for success so that my false god can determine my worth again?

For this reason I come to Jesus for my salvation, I come to Him to obey Him. I come to Him in prayer so that He may walk with me for the purposes to which He has called me.

“I must pray, pray, pray. I must put all my energy and all my heart into prayer. Whatever else I do, I must pray.” – R. A. Torrey