What Jesus Prays for Us
John 17.6-26
In His High Priestly Prayer, Jesus intercedes for us, emphasizing the importance of praying in alignment with His will, as He desires for us to receive His words, remain united, and experience His joy and love
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Weekly Devotional
Day 1: The Mystery and Beauty of the Triune God in Prayer
The concept of God praying to God highlights the profound mystery of the Trinity—one God in three persons. This mystery is not just a theological concept but a beautiful reality that shows God’s intimate involvement in our lives. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all interceding for us, demonstrating that God is deeply for us and understands our human struggles. This should fill us with awe and encourage us to engage in prayer with confidence. The triune nature of God enriches our understanding of prayer, showing us that prayer is a divine conversation within the Godhead that we are invited to join.
When we pray, we are not merely speaking into the void; we are participating in a divine dialogue that has been ongoing for eternity. This should give us great confidence and comfort, knowing that our prayers are heard and valued by a God who is intimately involved in our lives. Reflecting on this mystery can deepen our appreciation for the privilege of prayer and encourage us to engage in it more fervently.
John 14:16-17 (ESV): “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
Reflection: How does understanding the triune nature of God change the way you approach prayer? Can you take a moment today to thank each person of the Trinity for their unique role in your life?
Day 2: Jesus’ Desires for His Disciples
Jesus prays for His disciples to know His words, be kept in His name, be unified, experience divine joy, be protected from the evil one, be sanctified, be sent into the world, and ultimately be with Him in glory. These desires reveal Jesus’ deep love and care for His followers. By understanding these desires, we can align our prayers with His will, ensuring that we are praying effectively and meaningfully.
Jesus’ prayer in John 17 is a profound expression of His heart for His followers. He desires that we be deeply rooted in His teachings, protected from spiritual harm, and unified in our mission. This prayer also highlights the importance of joy and sanctification in the Christian life. By aligning our prayers with these desires, we can be confident that we are praying according to God’s will and that our prayers will be impactful.
John 17:15-17 (ESV): “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
Reflection: Which of Jesus’ desires for His disciples resonates most with you today? How can you incorporate this desire into your prayers for yourself and others?
Day 3: The Relative Value of Prayer
Despite Jesus and the Holy Spirit interceding for us, we are still commanded and invited to pray. This indicates that our prayers are not redundant but are a vital part of God’s sovereign plan. Prayer is a divine invitation to participate in God’s work, and it brings blessings and mysteries that we may not fully understand but are essential for our spiritual growth.
Prayer is not just a religious duty; it is a profound privilege and a powerful tool. Even though Jesus and the Holy Spirit are already interceding for us, our prayers still matter. They are a way for us to align our hearts with God’s will and to participate in His work in the world. This understanding should motivate us to pray more fervently and consistently, knowing that our prayers have real value and impact.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Reflection: How does knowing that your prayers are a vital part of God’s plan change your perspective on prayer? Can you commit to a specific time of prayer today, trusting that it has real value?
Day 4: Different Avenues of Prayer
Prayer can take many forms, including conversational, focused, persevering, and thanksgiving. Each type of prayer serves a unique purpose and helps us connect with God in different ways. Finding a personal prayer style that suits our relationship with God is crucial for a vibrant prayer life. This diversity in prayer practices enriches our spiritual journey and helps us grow closer to God.
Exploring different types of prayer can help us find the methods that resonate most with us and deepen our relationship with God. Conversational prayer allows for a more intimate, ongoing dialogue with God, while focused prayer helps us concentrate on specific needs or issues. Persevering prayer teaches us the value of persistence, and thanksgiving prayer cultivates a heart of gratitude. By incorporating these different avenues into our prayer life, we can experience a more well-rounded and fulfilling spiritual journey.
Ephesians 6:18 (ESV): “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”
Reflection: Which type of prayer do you feel most drawn to today—conversational, focused, persevering, or thanksgiving? How can you incorporate this type of prayer into your daily routine?
Day 5: Praying According to God’s Will
By turning Jesus’ prayer in John 17 into practical guides, we can pray confidently, knowing we are praying according to God’s will. This involves praying for ourselves and others to know God’s words, remain in His name, be unified, experience divine joy, be protected from the evil one, be sanctified, be sent into the world, and ultimately be with Jesus in glory. This approach ensures that our prayers are aligned with God’s desires and are impactful.
Praying according to God’s will means aligning our desires and requests with what God has revealed in Scripture. Jesus’ prayer in John 17 provides a powerful template for this. By focusing on the themes of knowing God’s word, unity, joy, protection, sanctification, mission, and eternal glory, we can be confident that our prayers are in line with God’s heart. This not only makes our prayers more effective but also transforms our own hearts to be more like Christ’s.
1 John 5:14-15 (ESV): “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything
Sermon Summary
Prayer is not just a duty; it's a divine invitation to experience the mystery and beauty of God interceding for us
This sermon explores John 17, the longest recorded prayer of Jesus, often referred to as the High Priestly Prayer. This prayer is profound as it captures Jesus praying for Himself, His disciples, and all future believers, including us. We explored the mystery and beauty of God praying to God, emphasizing the triune nature of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and how this mystery enriches our understanding of prayer. Jesus’ prayer reveals His deep desires for His disciples: that they would know His words, be kept in His name, be unified, experience divine joy, be protected from the evil one, be sanctified, be sent into the world, and ultimately be with Him in glory.
We also discussed the relative value of prayer, addressing the question of why we should pray if Jesus and the Holy Spirit are already interceding for us. Prayer is not meaningless; it is a divine invitation to participate in God’s sovereign work. Jesus commands and invites us to pray, indicating that our prayers are significant and impactful. We examined different types of prayer—conversational, focused, persevering, and thanksgiving—and encouraged finding a personal prayer style that fosters a deeper relationship with God.
Finally, we turned Jesus’ prayer into practical guides for our own prayer lives. By aligning our prayers with Jesus’ desires as revealed in John 17, we can pray confidently, knowing we are praying according to God’s will. This approach helps us grow in our prayer life, ensuring that we are not only praying for ourselves but also interceding for others in a meaningful way.