During the National Day holiday, a pastor in Jiangsu Province delivered a sermon at a spiritual retreat, expounding on Jesus' prayer in John 12:27-28.
According to the passage, he encouraged believers to grasp three essential principles of prayer: sincerity, willing obedience, and honoring the Lord above all.
First, prayer must be sincere and heartfelt. People pray differently in times of hardship, with some using eloquent words, others struggling to express themselves, and some even asking pastors to intercede. Reflecting on Jesus' words, "Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say?" the pastor emphasized that Jesus' prayer was filled with genuine emotion rather than ornate language. The Lord does not rebuke simple or unpolished prayers; instead, He dislikes empty repetition. True prayer, the pastor noted, flows from the heart, not merely from the lips.
Second, prayer must be offered with willingness and submission. Many people, the pastor observed, focus their prayers on their own. Yet, following Jesus' example in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Yet not what I will, but what you will," believers should pray sincerely while yielding to God's will. Christians are called to align their hearts with God's timing and purpose, placing Him at the center of their prayers.
Finally, prayer should magnify the Lord. Many believers pour out their struggles before God, which is natural, but the pastor reminded them that their hardships are small compared to the Lord's suffering. Prayer should lead believers from self-centeredness to God-centeredness.
Concluding his message, the pastor encouraged the congregation to make these three principles their spiritual practice by affirming: My prayer must be sincere, must be willing and obedient, and must honor the Lord above all.
(The pastor's name and the place are not disclosed for security reasons.)
Originally published by the Gospel Times
- Edited and translated by Poppy Chan
