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John 17:20-21

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

Personal Challenge

Jesus knew 2,000 years ago that His bride, the church, would end up splintered and contentious. That is why He prayed for us to be one. What are we doing to fulfill our part of this prayer? We must always remember that we are followers of Christ first, Christians, and that we practice our love for Him at the church that we go to. We so often get this backwards and put our church before Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Psalms 51:1-4 (50:2-6)

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy;
And according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression.
Wash me thoroughly from my lawlessness
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my lawlessness,
And my sin is always before me.
Against You only have I sinned
And done evil in Your sight;
That You may be justified in Your words,
And overcome when You are judged.

Personal Challenge

This psalm presents David’s lamentation after Nathan confronted him on his sinful relationship with Bathsheba. David did not fight back and defend his sinful actions. He immediately confessed his sin, repented, and reached out to his God for forgiveness and mercy. This is a prayer that we can all pray when we are reminded of our sins. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

John 17:14-17

I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Personal Challenge

This passage is taken from a prayer that Jesus was saying over His disciples, the apostles. It is clear in here that His followers are no longer a part of this world but a part of His heavenly kingdom. If we proclaim to be followers of Jesus, then it is imperative that we live our lives outside of this world. This will never be easy because the world hates Jesus and will hate us as well. We can count on Jesus to be there for us as we go through our life in this world. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Psalms 46:11 (45:12)

The Lord of hosts is with us,
The God of Jacob is our protector.

Encouraging Words

God promises He always be with us. He has been fulfilling this promise since He walked in the garden with Adam and Eve. He created us to be in relationship with us. He has never faltered on that. He is also our protector, so we have nothing to be fearful of. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

John 17:3

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Encouraging Words

What is eternal life? Knowing God, the only true God, and His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. By knowing God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and submitting our lives to Him, we will know, and experience eternal life. Glory be to God!

Psalms 46:10 (45:11)

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations;
I will be exalted in the earth.

Personal Challenge

One thing that all followers of Christ desire in their lives is to know God. Not to know about Him, but to actually know Him. What we often forget is that to know Him, really know Him intimately, we must be still and wait for Him to reveal himself to us. We keep our lives so busy that He has no room to fit into our life. If we truly desire to know Him intimately then we must slow down and be still before him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

John 16:33

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Encouraging

God loves us so much that He gave up His Son to become one of us and to let Him die and be resurrected for us so that we too may see our own resurrection. In that love He gives true peace, life piercing and life dominating peace. We can claim the promise of this peace in our lives and share it with others. Glory be to God!

Psalms 46:1 (45:2)

God is our refuge and power;
A help in afflictions that severely befall us.

Encouraging Words

Our God is not some distant, fictitious being that doesn’t care about us. He is not some profound teacher who now lies in the grave. Our God is alive…always has been and always will be. He is near to us at all times. He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us at all times. He is our refuge no matter what comes our way. Glory be to God!

John 16:23-24

And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Encouraging Words

Jesus never taught His followers a prosperity gospel. All you have to do to realize this is to read the beatitudes. And yet, He tells us that if we ask anything from God in the name of Jesus, it will be given to us. Doesn’t this contradict His other teachings? No! If we are following in the footsteps of Jesus, striving to be like Him, doing what He has asked us to do, then we will be asking God for the same things that Jesus would ask for. Our hearts, and therefore, our asks, would be in a alignment with Jesus. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!