This week, we’re going to do our daily devotionals a little different. Since we’re reading through Jesus’ longest prayer, each devotional will be a simple prayer prompt from the text. By following the prompts, we get to pray with Jesus in a way. Imagine yourself as one fo the disciples in the garden each day as you use these prayer ideas as springboards to a deeper relationship with God through the Spirit.
Read John 17:1-4
Think through all of the ways God has blessed your life since becoming a Christian. What is your identity in Christ? Have a conversation with God surrounding these things.
Read John 17:5
Jesus prays for glory. We can pray that as well as long as we keep in mind that it’s God’s glory that we want and need. What situations in your life do you want to see God glorified in? When we pray for God to be glorified, its prayer that God loves to answer.
Read John 17:6-12
Jesus prays for his disciples. How wonderful that John remembered this prayer? He must have leaned on it through many hardships. As Christians, we are also surrounded by disciples. Take time today and pray for the believers in your life.
Read John 17:13
Even on the night he was betrayed, Jesus prayed for his disciples to have full joy. They certainly weren’t going to experience much joy in the following days. But he didn’t want them to miss out on any goodness. Ask God to fill your life with joy. Ask him if there is anything you are doing or not doing that could give you more joy.
Read John 17:14-19
Sanctification is the process of being made holy. It’s usually a painful process. Think about how precious metals are purified with heat. That’s a common illustration for sanctification. How is God trying to sanctify you? Take a moment to listen for the Spirit. How does God want you to grow? How could you partner with him in his work to make you more holy?
John 17:20-26
This part of Jesus’ prayer seems to be awaiting fulfillment. Talk to God about how you could be an answer to this prayer in some way. Does your life promote unity or division? This is the last thing Jesus prayed about before he was betrayed. It’s a big deal to be a peacemaker and not a peace taker!