Day 27: When Jesus Prayed

John 17, 18, 19

Would you believe that in the moments before his arrest, that Jesus prayed? He prays for himself, his disciples and most importantly, for all believers.  What Jesus does, is of such unselfish merit – it’s astounding.  I still can’t grasp the fact that He knew his Father’s plan for him and yet rejoiced and prayed diligently.  As I read chapter 17, I couldn’t help but feel inadequate for my lack of belief.  As I read that in the hardest of times, Jesus completely surrendered himself into prayer, stirred a hardened part of my heart.

His prayer right before his arrest was such a moving plea to His father before He would join him.

³Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3

⁹I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. John 17:9

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. John 17:11

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^[a] them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:15-17

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. John 17:20-21

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.” John 17:23-26

Jesus prayed – and it shows me that I need to pray – for everything and in His name.

Lord, let me take this reading and apply it to my life.  If anything, it has become apparent, how much I lacked in my faith.  Let me take your accounts and your word to truly come and seek your name.  I ask that I am able to fully and completely submit to your will. In your name I pray, Amen.

Day 4: Come to me and I will give you rest

Day 4: Matthew 10, 11, 12

²⁸“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

How magnificent is this verse? Can anyone deny that this is how they feel at times?  Yet, in Matthew 11:28 – 30, Christ instructs what we are to do when are weary and burdened.  The life on this earth is temporary and fleeting.  Yet, we put so much power into something that matters so little.  We worry about our material possessions (or lack thereof), money, houses and other people.  We become anxious without any relent in sight.

Yet, what does Christ ask us to do?  He asks us to come to him.  That’s all.  Come to him in prayer – leave all of your human burdens aside.  In light of my recent unemployment venture, I can admit I was burdened and anxious 24/7.  I sought the answer in prayer.  I can admit that on the days that I sought peace (which should have been everyday but regretfully hasn’t been) that I found myself not worrying about it.  It was an amazing feeling.  I felt like I needed to be anxious and worried but I wasn’t.  Does Christ not ask “How much more valuable is a man than a sheep!” (Matthew 12:12)?  I hope that as I continue to delve into His word, that I may truly be able to become a tree that bears good fruit.