As we begin our journey from Holy Week to Pentecost, we see the disciples beginning their journey together as the Church. These are the days when they begin to discover what this daily living is going to look like as the ambassadors of the Kingdom to the rest of the world; a daunting thought, no doubt.

But one of the first things they are going to want to do is seek out the Father, and to ask for guidance from Jesus who has ascended. They are waiting in the Lord’s timing for the arrival of the Holy Spirit, or as Jesus kept calling Him, the ‘Counselor’ and the ‘Comforter.’ But until that day, until the day the Church is officially open for business, they are seeking out strength, learning patience and developing a game plan…and that all comes from remembering what Jesus taught them.

Looking to prayer, which will become the backbone of their ministry and every other ministry that follows in the millennia to come, we see that Jesus gave plenty of examples of what our life in prayer should be like. It’s not flowery speech, He condemned that in the Pharisees and Scribes. It’s not publicly done as a solo act trying to get attention for yourself and develop your spiritual reputation. He said to go to a closet, somewhere solitary, and spend your time in prayer that way. “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,” (Matthew 14:23 NIV)

And in those alone times, we seek God’s daily provision. Again, nothing excessive, no golden thrones for ourselves or the praise of men, otherwise we may begin to think that this life is about this life instead of the next. And so we pray that God would simply supply our needs. “Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11 NIV)

And then, we are thankful for God’s provision, because that helps keep us humble and appreciative. We remember that God is our supplier, and that it is not our own efforts that put bread on the table. “Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.” (Matthew 15:36 NIV)

And as the disciples talked, they remembered that Jesus’ priorities were oftentimes different than what they had been raised to believe and understand. They remember how He valued others, especially children, and that their prayer needed to be others focused, not self focused. “Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.” (Matthew 19:13 NIV)

And they came to understand that prayer wasn’t some side venture in the walk of a Jesus follower, but rather the driving force behind their daily walk. It wasn’t something to be taken up on Sundays and at mealtimes, or in hours of desperation, but rather instead like breathing. It was essential, an uncompromised point of living in Him.

Because, every week, in the first day, they were going to gather, remember just what it was they had been given in Him and share in the common meal, the communion with their Master and Rabbi. He had been very specific about this, and while the idea of eating His ‘flesh’ and drinking His ‘blood’ was rather odd at the time, they now knew and understood what He had meant by all that, and the deepest parts of their hearts were filled by this time in prayer and remembrance with Him.
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.” (Matthew 26:26-27 NIV)

If they were going to take on their Rabbi’s mantle, carry His yoke, then they were going to need to pray like He prayed, love like He loved, serve like He served. And what they were waiting for, we now know and experience. So, prayer guiding you, breathing it in and out every day, GoLove others as Jesus would, focusing first on God, then on them, remembering the words of the Baptist, John, ‘He must become greater, I must become less.” (John 3:30)