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by Lydia Harris
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“…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” (John 17:23).
Read: John 17:20-24
Reflect: If you could enlist anyone to pray for you, who would you ask? Would you ask your parents, spouse, child, sibling, minister, neighbor, coworker, friend, or all of the above? And what would you ask them to pray about? Would it be for good health, financial provision, or the salvation of a loved one? Our prayer requests reflect our desires and needs.
If I could choose anyone to pray for me, I would ask the most powerful pray-er I know. Yet after I read today’s passage, I realized I already have the prayers of the Mighty One. Jesus, now seated at the right hand of God, was praying for future believers. What a precious thought that you and I were included!
What are Jesus’ prayers for us? He prays for unity among believers and the salvation of unbelievers; and these two prayers are linked. He desires believers to become one with him and live together in unity in order that others may see Christ in us and believe in Him. In verse 24, Jesus also reminds God the Father how deeply He longs for us to be with Him in glory.
I want to follow Jesus’ example in prayer and pray not only for my desires but also for the desires on His heart. When I pray for love and unity among Christians and for the salvation of those around me, I’m praying for others as Jesus prays for us.
~ Loving Father, help me demonstrate Your love and unity as I work with people around me. May others see Christ in me and believe in Him.
Questions: What do you appreciate about Jesus’ prayer in John 17? Based on Jesus’ prayer, are there ways you can make your prayers more effective?
About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/lydia-e-harris/
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i know that i need Jesues to help make my prayer life more meaningful
Great devotional.
Father I want those you given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved before the creation of the world. vs. 24
This verse blows me away! That would knock our socks off if we did see the Glory of God wouldn’t it? Does someone want to comment on this verse!
That whole chapter 17 is amazing. What a wonderful prayer and example of prayer Jesus show us. That is something to ponder about Margaret. What does it mean? Could it mean that the disciples at that time would see the resurrected Christ? But then he talks about all believers, even us. In the commentary is says that we will see his eternal splendor. That is a good question.
One thing I have written in the margins of my bible around verse 23 and 24 is that “Jesus is the conductor of the orchestra”. I take that too mean that despite all Christians being in unity, we can still have our differences, ( different sounds, abilities and talents)just as the instruments in the orchestra are different.
There is no one better suited to pray for us than Jesus. While He is in heaven He is there interceding for us before the Father. …because He always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25b.
His desire is that others may see Him in us, just as He asked the Father in Jn. 17:21.
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.
I am comforted to know Jesus had me in mind long ago when He prayed for future believers. And He continues to pray for me. And when I don’t know how to pray, the Holy Spirit interprets my thoughts to the Father.
I know many of you are intercessors and support each other in prayer. God will bless and reward you for your caring hearts. He is a God of compassions and cares deeply about each of our needs and desires.
God bless you,
Lydia
Thank you for a wonderful and heart touching devotional.
When I read this prayer that Jesus prayed, it brings me to
tears. I can feel the love and concern Jesus has for us ,
it speaks so loud and clear from his prayer. One of the
things that really moves me about the prayer is, Jesus
prayed for me, for my salvation before I was ever born or
my parents was born. I also like what he said about, he was
sent by the Father, that the world may know how the Father
love us as the Father have loved him. Oh! what great manner
of love in which he loves us, to make it personal loves me!
Another thing that was touching to my heart was,Jesus saying
how he want us to be where he is, wo he can show us his glory. What great and marvelous things, that the eye have
not seen nor ear heared, nor even enter into the heart of
man the things our Father has in store for us who loves him
and wh loves us. I believe what the word said in IJohn 5:14,
“This is the confidence that we have in him (God), that if
we ask anything according to his will(word), he hears us.
IJohn 5:15, “And if we know that he hears us whatever we ask we know that we have what we asked of him”. When I pray
according to the word of God and in faith then Iam confident
that my prayers is heared and answered by God. I believe
that Jesus has fore knowledge that the body of christ would
have a problem with unity. I view and observe today how the
body is being divided by the influence of the enemy so he
can try to stop the plan of God concerning the body of
Christ. I see and hear more and more how the body and especially our leaders tearing each other apart before a
world that is lost. Jesus made it plain and clear that one
of the keys to effective evangelism is the demonstration of
unity among the body. This is a very powerful prayer that
also speaks a powerful message to the body of Christ. Ladies
have a week of supernatural interventions and manifestations
for God desires to invade your space and reveal himself to
you in a deeper, more intimate and greater way. Blessings to
all.
Praise be to Jesus for knowing and praying for us even before we were created and brought to our life here. Whenever I feel like I don’t know what to pray for, I just talk to God and let the Holy Spirit lift up my thoughts and turn them to prayer. It is such a blessing to truly spend time in His presence and feel His Glory and Mercy. We need to do this more than daily because the enemy will use every moment and opportunity to turn us from praying and worshiping the Lord. It is up to us to remove the enemy from our mind by being continuous in our prayers and listening to the Holy Spirit. I lift up this prayer to everyone that the Lord will touch your heart and control your mind with the Spirit so that you can receive all of His blessings and Mercy today and every day.
Many thanks to Lydia for a wonderful devotional.
And cdt9302 your thoughts are so good. It is so amazing that we don’t even have to express our prayers at times because the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we do not have the words to say ourselves. I have actuallly asked for His help before. What an awesome Trinity we have. I love Our Heavenly Father and His Son, and Holy Spirit so much and am so thankful for the fact that GOD never changes. He is the same Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. We know what we can expect from Him. He adores us and we should always show Him how much we love Him.
There is a questiion I would like to ask everyone I meet and don’t know why I don’t, is, What is the one thing you would like and need to take to Heaven with you when you go? I am sure all of you know the answer. Think about it. Blessings, Hannah
Hi Hanne,
I’m sure we’re all curious to know how you would answer your own question. What is the one thing you think you need to take with you to heaven? I look forward to your answer.
Blessings,
Lydia
I think my answer would be my graditude to fall at the feet of Jesus! I am planning on travelling light!
Margaret, I love your answer to take gratitude to fall at the feet of Jesus.
I am also looking forward to falling at the feet of Jesus and I want to dance and praise Him. I will be well then and able to dance which I haven’t been able to do for about 20 yrs. and can hardly walk on my walker but a few minutes, but I am grateful for those few minutes.
The Question that I proposed to the group only got 2 replys, so I will tell you what I think we all should take with us and it might be years ago that we sent it and some of it may come years after we get to Heaven.
The answer is to lead others to Christ. That is a gift to Him and also a command I think to share our faith to the ones we meet and let the Holy Spirit do His work with that person. Blessings to all, Hannah
Lydia, again thank you for this wonderful and meaning devotional. And as I was reading the scripture it opened my eyes to see how much Jesus wants us to communicate with him and on a regular basis. In fact continually through out the day. it is such a feeling of being loved so much.
I also read the verse from John16:33. My eyes just happened upon it as it was just above the one in John 17:1. In it Jesus said,” I have told you these things, so that in me you would have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” I know God has a purpose behind every problem. I suppose Jesus was trying to get His deciples to know this as He was speaking to them in this passage.
But it is for us also. And He has always been for us and wants us in Glory with Him. Can you just imagine how Joyous and Glorious that day will be? It is hard to imagine, but as the Word reveals it, it is beautiful and more beautiful that we have seen on the earth.
Prayer is a Father and a child talking and I can’t help but cry when I pray most of the time. It is so personal also and brings Joy to my heart even if He may answer no to me. He knows best.
Milt you talked about verse 21 and I love that one, because he wants us to be one with Him. That is His love for us and His Heart is so Pure and I want mine like His.
One thing that is important to me is for people to see Jesus in me and not see me. It was John the Baptist that said He would become less because Jesus was more. (That is not quoting it word for word.) But I know you know the passage. I should have looked it up.
Much love to you all and may God Bless you all in a very special way. Bless God, Hannah