"Falling in Love with Jesus: Pray How He Prays” | Rev. Vicki Harrison

Prayer Isn’t Optional

Today, Pastor Vicki Harrison continues our series Falling in Love with Jesus with a powerful message on how Jesus prays—and why His example matters for us now. If we love Jesus, we want to live like Him. That means doing what He does—and Jesus prays.

Prayer isn’t an afterthought or routine in Jesus’ life. It’s His connection to the Father and His source of strength, clarity, and surrender. As Ruth Haley Barton puts it, prayer is “all the ways we communicate and commune with God.” That’s exactly what Jesus models.

Watch the full worship service video or listen to the sermon audio below.

How Does Jesus Pray?

Here are four powerful patterns from Jesus’ prayer life:

1. Jesus Prays Frequently and Intentionally
Even when He’s busy, Jesus withdraws to lonely places to pray (Luke 5:16). In Mark 1:35, He rises early after a long night of healing to seek solitude with God. Prayer isn’t squeezed in—it’s prioritized.

2. Jesus Prays for Preparation and Power
Before His public ministry, Jesus spends 40 days praying and fasting in the wilderness (Mark 1:12–13). That season prepares Him for the challenges ahead. He also prays all night before choosing the 12 disciples (Luke 6:12). Major decisions and ministry moments flow from communion with God.

3. Jesus Prays in Sorrow and Surrender
In Gethsemane, Jesus prays through deep anguish: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). He brings His raw honesty to God and ends in total surrender.

4. Jesus Expects His Followers to Pray
When the disciples fail to cast out a demon in Mark 9, Jesus tells them, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” The disciples had skipped the most important step. Pastor Vicki challenges us to ask: Are we doing the same?

What About You?

Are you praying like Jesus?

Jesus prays before every big moment, in times of sorrow, when seeking wisdom, and to stay connected to the Father. If He can’t live without prayer, neither can we.

Here’s your invitation to pause and reflect:

• Consistency: Do you have a rhythm of prayer?

• Content: Is your prayer mostly requests—or worship and surrender?

• Connection: Do you listen—or just talk?

• Commitment: Are you preparing in prayer—or reacting in stress?

Falling in love with Jesus means falling in love with prayer. Let’s recommit together.

Know. Grow. Go.

At New Hope, we exist to Know Jesus, Grow Faith, and Go Multiply. Prayer isn’t just part of that process—it fuels it. Join a community that prioritizes prayer, and discover what’s possible when we depend fully on God.

Take a next step this week:
👉 Join a /groups community or prayer gathering
👉 Visit findnewhope.com/whoweare to connect

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More Sermons in this Series

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Other Sermons from Pastor Vicki