Jesus Prays

I write little stories each day of ordinary events and find, through them, glimpses of God's lessons to me and to many of you. But as I was searching scriptures yesterday for a devotional, I ran across three prayers of Jesus that encompass the entire chapter of John 17. The first one is Jesus praying for HImself, the second for his Disciples and the third for all believers. And as I read them it occurred to me that so many times my stories do not begin to penetrate the very nature of God himself. They have a good message...and one that many can relate to....but the real depth of the character of God is often sidestepped.

When I read how Jesus prays...in all three of the following prayers...it hit me that I need to make sure that my footing, when writing these devotionals, is in line with the established essence of Christ....who he is, what he has done, where he lives, and what our relationship is to Him....and what His relationship is to His father God.

The theme that runs through each of the prayers, whether he is praying for himself, his disciples or believers is about our relationship with God...and what we as Christians are to do with what we know.

v 1 - Battleground...Satan's followers at battle with God's followers
v 3 - Eternal Life...Requires a faith committment to Christ - admit sin and turn away from it
v 5 - Restoration....Before Jesus came to earth, he was one with God, as he returns to God he asks to be restored to original position - a place of honor and authority
v 10 - God's glory - revelation of His character and his presence - disciples reveal his character and he is present to this world through them
v 11 - Unity - love others and be in harmony as the Father Son and Holy Spirit are united and live in perfect harmony
v 13 - JOY - key to immeasurable joy is to live in close contact with Jesus...the true source of joy
v 14 - Values - Christian vales are differnet than the world's values..thus controversy arises between them
v 17 - Santification - a big word for being set apart - cleansed - comes through obedience and faith in and of God's word - daily application has a pourifying effect on minds and hearts
v 18 - Remain - We are left in this world to be salt and light and do the work God sent us to do
v 20 - Jesus prayed for his followers - protection from the evil one and santification - This should give us confidence knowing that we have friends who pray fro us on this earth...but JESUS himself prayed for us....and continues to do so.
v - 21-23 Jesus prayed for disciples to become one...united as a powerful witness....I have to think how many times have I torn down instead of built up - Unity - ex: each branch living in union with the vine is united with all other branches doing the same.

I know this is very different than what you are used to reading but the Lord put it on my heart to get back to basics....our lives are not about us but about the Christ that lives within each of US.

Reading these prayers convicted me not only of my need for God's daily application of love, grace, forgiveness, wisdom, compassion strength etc....but also the reminder that Jesus, who sits with authority on the right side of his Father's throne in the heavenly kingdom...is praying for ME. For me to live in harmony with my fellow man, to love one another and to be a witness who declares the majesty and authority and loving concern of a heavenly Father who knows all, sees all and can do all....All in the name of love.....for us...and glory to HIM!

As you read this...consider what your relationship to God is today....are you making a difference in His kingdom her on earth? And do you believe that Jesus prays for you...knows where your hurts are...is making a stand to protect you and restore you
and is with you in whatever situation has landed in your life....well he is! And each of our lives has a grand potential that is heaven sent...or why else would "Jesus". King of Kings, be taking the time, and making the effort to pray for my little ordinary life and yours too?
John 17
Jesus Prays for Himself
1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6"I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name-the name you gave me-so that they may be one as we are one. 12While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify[b] them by the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

Praise God wherever you are or whatever situation he has allowed you to be in...for His glory will shine through.

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