Praying Like JesusНамуна

Day 21: ASK – Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and appeal with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.'" – Philippians 4:6

In John 11:38-44, Jesus arrives at the tomb of His friend Lazarus, who has been dead for four days. Before commanding Lazarus to come out, Jesus prays to His Father, saying, “Father, I thank You that You have heard me. I knew that You always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent me.”

Jesus’ prayer here is powerful because it serves two purposes: First, it expresses trust in the Father, and second, it’s a witness to those around Him. Jesus’ prayer wasn’t necessary for the miracle itself—He is God and could have raised Lazarus without uttering a word. But by praying aloud, He demonstrated His relationship with the Father and invited those watching to have faith in God’s power. The purpose of Jesus’ asking was not only to perform the miracle but to lead others to faith in the One who has the power over life and death.

This passage teaches us that asking about our needs allows us to point others to the power of God. When we pray and ask, we are emboldened with the understanding that our prayers have the potential to simultaneously bring glory to God and deepen the faith of those around us.

Today, consider how your prayers might be a testimony of God’s power. Ask in faith, believing that God will use your prayers for your benefit and to bring others to believe in His greatness and love.