Jesus had the salvation of the world on his shoulders. He was about to give his life on a cross. Jesus was praying for all people. He had a lot to pray about! But Jesus knew that his Father was big enough to help. And the Father made Jesus’ prayer matter!

We’ve got a lot to pray about too! I have a friend struggling with cancer, a relative who is straying from Jesus, a coworker who’s been hospitalized for weeks, and dozens more (literally!) on my prayer list. That’s just my list! What about yours? We’ve got a lot to pray about!

Let’s just appreciate that. Let’s appreciate that we know the power of prayer—that we get to go to the Almighty in prayer and know that he answers. Let’s appreciate that no matter how big our prayer list, we have an even bigger God who promises to make our prayers matter and answers them perfectly. Let’s appreciate that when we pray, our minds and hearts are taken away from the frenzy of life and are focused on the very reason for our existence, our good and gracious God. Let’s appreciate that prayer is another very special way that God has given to his children only to be able to help, heal, and serve others. Let’s appreciate what a wonderful blessing it is . . . that we have a lot to pray about! 

“[Jesus] took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray” (Luke 9:28).