Praying like Jesus prays

 

READ John 17-21

Yesterday’s devotion about prayer resulted in a spiritual attack in which I felt guilty of everything and yet nothing was named. This is one of Satan’s strategies to keep me from praying. I struggled all day, was angry at nothing and had no ambition to do anything. Finally I prayed that if this was from the Lord, I would accept it, but if not, that He would put a stop to it. He did.

Prayer is the weapon of the saints. Satan will do whatever he can to disarm God’s people. He knows that we are wonderfully and powerfully able to “toss mountains into the sea” and to break his power over events and people who are in his grasp. It is with great emotion and a plea for God’s protection that I read the high priestly prayer of Jesus this morning and see the instruction in it for my own prayers.

Jesus begins with a request to be glorified. He finished what God sent Him to do and made the Father known to those given to Him. His next words are significant.

“For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.” (John 17:8–9)

I tend to pray much for the world; it is in such a mess, but Jesus prayed for His people. He said not one was lost and wanted each one to be filled with His joy. He wanted all who believe to be sanctified, meaning to be set apart for Him and increasing in godliness to be like Him. This happens through knowing the truth, knowing God’s Word.

He also prayed we would be left here, sent like He was sent yet kept from the evil one, protected from His schemes, lies, and destructive power. He prayed for our unity for that is our major witness that He was in this world. He also prayed for those who would believe because of our testimony as we share His Word with others:

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:20–23)

Jesus prayed that our presence would be with Him, not in heaven (yet) but recognizing the reality that He is with us that we might be aware of His glory. He said:

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:24–26)

The bottom line is that the people of God would be filled with the love of God, implying that His love would motivate all that we do. To help us, Jesus would make God known to us continually and in such a way that His love would shine out of our lives.

Reading this, and yesterday’s battle after writing about the power of praying in the name of Jesus, I realize the power of praying as Jesus prayed. This list of Jesus’ requests are God’s will for Christians and to pray in God’s will and in the name of His Son puts the person and activities of our spiritual enemy in great jeopardy. He tries to stop us from praying, period, never mind praying as Jesus prayed.

Lord Jesus, please deliver me from this enemy who so easily blocks prayer, even my desire to pray. I know that You hear and answer. So does he! Keep me alert and aware so I can pray for myself and others as You pray for us. May Your people be united in this battle — with the goal that You are mightily glorified.

 

One life can make a difference

2 Chronicles 18; Zechariah 3; John 6; Revelation 7

Questioning if one person’s life can make a difference, the Lord had me read about two kings of the divided kingdoms of Judah and Israel. They got together in an attempt to recapture one of their cities taken by the enemy. Jehoshaphat of Judah told Ahab of Israel they must first inquire for the Word of the Lord. Ahab summoned 400 prophets and they all said to go. Jehoshaphat asked for “another prophet of the Lord” who told them that this would mean disaster for Ahab.

Ahab wasn’t worried but he did disguise himself and told Jehoshaphat to wear his kingly robes. It almost worked, but the opposition realized this was not the one they were after. Then, at random one of the soldiers shot an arrow between Ahab’s “the scale armor and breastplate” and he died.

This story is about the amazing sovereignty of God vs. the plans of men. It is true when those plans are against the revealed will of God, in this case what the prophet of the Lord told them, but it is also true when godly people make decisions that and intended for good.

We once were members of a large church in California with over seventy elders involved in leadership. Their policy was that nothing would happen unless all seventy agreed to it. In one situation, the plan was to build an education wing. They had the money and the space. Sixty-nine agreed. They honored the man who was unsure and tabled their plans, praying instead. In time, God revealed to all that elder board that this was not the right time or plan.

Sometimes I think that one person cannot make much of a difference. I’m result-orientated and get discouraged when I cannot see a result. Motivational speakers and stories sometimes get me fired up or I have a ‘great idea’ but if it is not supported by others or does not work out, I easily retreat into feeling useless or unable.

The story of this one prophet is God’s way of telling me to simply know His will and tell others. I’m not responsible for what happens after that and most of the time will never know what happens except that James 5:16 says: “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” This promise is connected to keeping short accounts with God as He does not reveal His will to those in bad need of His discipline, as in the case of the 400 prophets who seemed to be more concerned to impress Ahab than tell him the truth.

This is also illustrated in Zechariah 3 where Joshua was given clean vestments to replace his filthy garments and told to walk in God’s ways. Then the plan of God was revealed to him.

However, the church story about the seventy elders reveal another side to this: God may not tell me what I want to know or how to pray about a matter until His timing is right. It is not always my sin that causes His silence. Jesus spoke often about those without ears to hear, but He also said to His disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” (John 16:12)

Perhaps this is the greatest reason that Christians struggle to understand the book of Revelation. We are not ready for it. Not only that, human desire to ‘make a difference’ is strong, perhaps to a fault. I cannot change what God is going to do in the future and if I did know, would I try? The Bible tells me my prayers can be effective and powerful, yet the will of God takes supremacy.

APPLY: This strikes close to home. Hundreds were praying for my great-nephew, Kyle over the past few days. Most know that Jesus could have raised him after his deadly accident. But God did not do that. Instead, He took Kyle out of this world and into His glory. This is better for Kyle, great sorrow for us. It also shows that even the fervent prayers of many Christians does not pull God’s strings. Our best hope is learning to pray in the will of God, being willing as Jesus was, to surrender our will to His. Would I rejoice if I could tell God what to do? Or would I soon realize that my wisdom is folly compared to that of our all-knowing and Almighty God?

I rather suspect that Kyle’s “passing from death to life” (seen John 5:24) is making a difference. His organs may mean life and even the discovery of eternal life to others who would otherwise perish. His short life certainly made a difference in the lives of hundreds who knew Him.

All of this to say that I have no clue what God is doing to make my life matter. I’m still here and trust that He has a reason for that. He whispers: “Just keep praying, My dear, just keep praying.”