Prayer Masterclass

When I read Jesus praying in John chapter 17, I feel like I’m in a “prayer masterclass.” 

There’s something very personal and helpful to hear Jesus talk to His Father.  I’m blessed by the wonderful things He prayed that You and I would experience, but also by His tender and trusting open hearted expressions of faith and trust.

We’ll use Jesus’ words as a guide as we pray today:

Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.

John 17:1-2

Heavenly Father, we first of all want to thank You for Jesus who has clearly shown You to us and shown us how to relate to You in the most personal and powerful way.

As He asked, so we ask that You would get glory from our lives as we walk in the authority we’ve been granted.  We only seem to know a little of that closeness and authority but we want to experience more today. 

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

John 17:3

Thank you for Jesus who willingly came to earth to provide eternal life for those of us who would put their trust in Him.  We’re grateful today that we can know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent, know Your heart of love and generosity for us, know Your willingness to get involved, even at the expense of Your own life.

Loving God, we don’t want to just know some bits of information about You but our heart is to really know and experience the closeness of a trustworthy and loving Father who cares deeply for us and will make everything we need today available to us.

I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

John 17:4-5

None of us know how many days we’ll have on this earth but in this particular day we pray that what we do will be focused on the work You’ve given us to do today and finish it so You can be clearly seen at work in our lives and through us in kindness and truth to others around us.  We want to leave tomorrow’s activities to tomorrow and just live with You in this day.  Amen

Beautiful words, these prayers of Jesus, aren’t they?  We’ll look at a bit more of this prayer tomorrow.