which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
(Ephesians 2:10, NKJV)
MORNING DEVOTION- "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)
Scripture Reading: John 17:6-19
Although we touched on this wonderful prayer early on in our journey, this aptly named "High Priestly Prayer" is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus' in the Scriptures; and it provides for us a window into the heart of the One who is our great teacher of prayer. As Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure, He gave them His final instructions, and then prepared them and all future believers in the most important way - in prayer. "Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You. For I gave them the words You gave Me and they accepted them...I pray for them" (v.7-9a). At Gethsemane, as His hour of suffering was upon Him, Jesus prayed fervently. In His great anguish He thought of His disciples who would live and carry on His ministry in this dark and evil world. He asked the Father to not save them from the world, but to save them for the world. He knew the conflict and criticism they would suffer, so He asked the Father for His divine protection to carry them through expected trials and afflictions, and to sanctify them to be ministers of His truth to the world which would hate them for their ministry,
We are reminded of Jesus' words to Peter, "...I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:32). Jesus knew exactly what Peter would face, therefore He prepared the way for his trial by fire in prayer. Every step of Jesus' ministry on the earth was made by first meeting with the Father in prayer, so that every step He took would be according to the will of the Father. The world is full of its' enticements and evils, and the enemy is lurking around every corner seeking to devour the Lord's disciples and to destroy their work for the kingdom of God, our greatest weapon to assist us in carrying out our holy commission is prayer. May we learn to be proficient swordsmen, so we will be prepared for each day of battle. "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" (John 17:11b).
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the faithful intercession of
our great Mediator, Jesus Christ, who
has prepared us through His prayers.
We have no reason for weariness or fear with the
knowledge that He is always praying in
the presence of the Father on our behalf;
asking that we be kept from the world - it's evils and sins;
but also kept for the world - which dearly needs the light of
Your disciples
to lead the lost out of the darkness.
You have prayed that we be sanctified
-
You have set us apart,
not to just
keep us from evil,
but to make us holy and good.
Help us to daily feed upon Your Holy Word - our
necessary food to nourish and strengthen this
new life within.
Sanctify us by Your truth -
Your word is truth.
Above all give us Your love;
for we live in a world that hates us, but Your
love will carry us through whatever trials and
sufferings come our way. You have prepared
us for this hour, and You are continuing to pray us through.
Thank You that You have provided all that we need,
in and through Christ Jesus,
to continue Your ministry,
build Your Church, and advance
Your kingdom
in this world.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
We have been set apart by Christ for His service, but as has been stated before: we have not been called to some great work - we have been called to Christ; and the greatest work He has called us to do is to allow Him to accomplish His sanctifying work in us - to prepare us to be a holy people. "And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth" (v.19). Jesus Christ has called us out of the world and has set us apart for Himself; we are not of the world, and the world will hate us for it, but the love of God will keep us and transform us into vessels of mercy which He will use to accomplish His kingdom's work. Let us pray this morning for the preparation of God's people, that we would live fully devoted to the Lord, separated from the world, and united as one body, fit for His service. "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:4-6).
AFTERNOON DEVOTION -"Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17, KJV).
Scripture Reading: John 17:20-26
On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus agonized in prayer. His prayers became so fervent His sweat was like great drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:44). In those final moments Jesus wrote His "last will and testament" in prayer, leaving behind a legacy of love on behalf of His disciples and all future believers. In the hours leading up to His arrest, Jesus thought of the whole world; this is why the Father had sent Him. His anguishing heart embraced not only His disciples, whom He would leave behind, but also all future believers throughout all time and throughout the entire earth. "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message..." (John 17:20).
Jesus came to repair the sinful breach which separated mankind from the Father, therefore His prayers were for unity. He exemplified the standard of unity in His own relationship with the Father. "...that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You" (v.21a). His prayers availed much because He was one with the Father. The priority of our prayers should be the same as Jesus' were - for the unity of the Church; for in this abiding union with the Lord and each other we have power and strength to "ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you" (John 15:7). The unity of believers provides evidence of the great love of the Father in sending His Son Jesus Christ to save the world. The degree to which the Church is united in the love of the Father, reveals the wisdom of God in the spiritual realm. "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ephesians 3:10-11). Our love towards one another and our unity with each other is vital to the accomplishment of God's work in the world. "...to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ" (Philippians 1:10b).
Heavenly Father,
Awaken Your Church
to our high and holy calling.
Take possession of our hearts
and place within Your Body
the desire of Your heart that
we would pray without ceasing.
Unite our hearts one to another to
plead Your cause on behalf
of the perishing of the world.
May we give ourselves over to prayer,
first for those in our own circle of
influence, and having won them
to Christ, entrust us with the privilege
of praying down heavens blessings
on a multitude of souls
that they may behold Your glory.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Jesus prepared His people and preserved the ministry of His Word in His high priestly prayer. In this prayer lies the key for successful intercession - "that they may be one just as We are one" (v.22b). It is in our union with the Lord which gives us confidence to lay hold of every precious promise of God's Word. This afternoon let us pray for this oneness with God for all believers, so that we can be made complete in Him and experience the blessings of intimacy with the Father and the privileges of unity in answered prayer. Let us pray for unity for the Body of Christ, that with one heart, one mind, and one mouth we may provide a visible witness of the love and oneness of the Father to the world. "....that the world may believe that You sent Me" (v.21b).
EVENING MEDITATION -"...and on His law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:2)
Scripture Reading: Psalm 121
The Lord has laid for us a firm foundation to walk upon. He has paved the way for us in prayer. In the presence of the Lord in prayer we will find all the light we need to navigate through this life. He will help us to remove the obstacles that we might have stumbled over where we once proceeded without first inquiring of Him, and He will direct us down the path He has chosen and prepared for us as we listen to His voice telling us this is the way to walk and to walk in it. As we meditate on this encouraging Psalm this evening, which describes the help of the Lord given to those who faithfully seek Him, may we settle ourselves in His presence and fix our eyes upon infinite love and majesty. Let us give ourselves completely over to His love and ask that He would empty us of ourselves, so that He can have His hearts desire and make us completely His. May He train us up to be His warriors in prayer who seek nothing for ourselves, but only what brings glory to the Father; and may He give us in response to our complete surrender to His will all that we ask of Him in prayer.
