The Essential JesusSample

The Joy of Prayer

PRAY: Begin with a time of praise: "Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name" (Psalm 103:1).

READ: Luke 10:1-24

REFLECT: The return of the seventy-two "missionaries" was a moment to savor. They had returned with reports of effective outreach (v. 17). You can imagine Jesus giving "high fives" to each one as they went around the circle sharing their experiences. But in the middle of this victory celebration, Jesus took time for an impromptu prayer meeting (v.21).

The first thing we notice in this passage is the emphasis on joy. The missionaries were feeling the joy of success (v. 17); they had obeyed Jesus and seen results. That principle still works today. But Jesus' joy was more profound (v. 21, "through the Holy Spirit") because He saw the deeper reality to what was happening. Satan, the real enemy, was being defeated (v. 18), and God's self-revelation was becoming more clear and understandable – even to the most unlikely persons (v. 21). Too often prayer can become a solemn recitation of problems and worries. Of course, God cares about those things and invites us to share our burdens with Him (Psalm 68:19). But Jesus shows that when we really understand what God is doing in the world, it makes us want to shout. Joy is a vital part of prayer.

Another thing we notice in this short prayer is Jesus' confidence in God's plan: "Yes, Father, for this was Your good pleasure" (Luke 10:21). Some people think of prayer as a kind of hopeless, wishful thinking, "Oh well, all I can do now is pray. Maybe I'll get lucky." But Jesus shows that when we really understand that God is in control of everything, we can be bold. Confidence in God's power and will is another vital part of prayer.

In spite of this inspiring prayer, Jesus knew His followers would eventually face difficulties, so He gave them some important reminders. First, no matter what happens, whether we experience success or failure, we are to live with the Kingdom end in mind (v. 20); that puts everything else into proper perspective. And second, we are also to keep the big picture in mind. God has been at work for a long time (vv. 23-24) drawing people to Himself, and He will continue to do so. Our responsibility is not to achieve success but to remain faithful to God, which is another reason we need to pray.

APPLY: What things about God make you feel the most joyful?

PRAY: End with a time of praise: "I will shout for joy and sing Your praises, for You have redeemed me" (Psalm 71:23 NLT).