Scripture/ Prayer/ Meditation/ Action

Psalm 136

Scripture and Prayer

Psalm 85

Lord, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin. Selah
3 You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.

Meditation and action.

I like to practice the art of adoration, confession and assurance. We do it in our services and we can practise it in our private prayer time. There is adoration in in verses 1-3, a sense of confess, more like a crying out for relief in verses 4-7 and then assurance in vs 8-13.

The best meditation will take away from these words, “Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.”

Maybe there is something more to write but today, “Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.”

Grant us Salvation. Show us your steadfast love. “Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.”

Scripture

John 17:6-19

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 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. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 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. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.[a] 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them[b] in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself,[c] that they also may be sanctified[d] in truth.
Prayer

We see differences more quickly than similarities. We see disagreements more accurately than agreement. We see failed expectations more readily than generosity. You grace is sufficient in this Father. You can place on us and in us your name. Your name can hold us and bind us together. Your name is love. In Christ we say, Amen.
Meditation

There are certain things in our lives that we continue to go back to. Things that build into us a deeper appreciation of God’s name, His grace, His love, His pursuit. Verse 11 is the beginning of that hard understanding. Are we one? I really need to spend more time with this and let it push me. But something I do come back to again and again that helps me rest in the moment and leads to understanding of where I stand with all humanity before God is a song by the Lost Dogs. Here is a link and below are the lyrics:
Politicians, morticians, philistines, homophobes,

Skinheads, deadheads, tax evaders, street kids,

Alcoholics, workaholics, wise guys, dim-wits,

Blue-collars, white-collars, war-mongers, peace-nicks.
Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God.
Suicidals, rock idols, shut-ins, drop-outs,

Friendless, homeless, penniless and depressed,

Presidents, residents, foreigners and aliens,

Dissidents, feminists, xenophobes and chauvinists.
Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God.
Evolutionists, creationists, perverts, slum lords,

Dead-beats, athletes, Protestants and Catholics,

Housewives, neophytes, pro-choice, pro-life,

Misogynists, monogamists, philanthropists, blacks and whites. 
Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God.
Police, obese, lawyers, and government,

Sex offenders, tax collectors, war vets, rejects,

Atheists, scientists, racists, sadists,

Biographers, photographers, artists, pornographers. 
Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God.
Gays and lesbians, demagogues and thespians,

The disabled, preachers, doctors and teachers,

Meat eaters, wife beaters, judges and juries,

Long-hairs, no-hairs, everybody everywhere.
Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God.
It is the desperate need of all of us.  

Action

What are the commonalities you find with those you disagree with? Write them out, go talk to them about what you have in common. Ask God to help you move beyond the division that is caused by disagreement and differences toward the place of unity.

Scripture

John 17:6-19

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 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. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 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. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.[a] 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them[b] in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself,[c] that they also may be sanctified[d] in truth.

Prayer

We can see ourselves through a glass dimly. The shadow of who we are appears to be more real. We gravitate toward the negative elements of our hearts when we in silence think about our lives. Or we see ourselves as innocent in the face of evil. We are pushed upon by forces that seek to do us harm. We are not broken but shattered by the actions of others. Or we see ourselves as glorious and lovely, we are the pinnacle of humanity. We are kind and thoughtful seeking the care of others above ourselves. Or we are thoughtless of ourselves. We have felt so invisible to those around us or overlooked that we believe that we are non-important. Our absence would go unrecognized. We have become non. Jesus, help us to see ourselves through your eyes. Help us to hear your prayer so that we can live in our truth identity. Amen

Meditation

Our house is filled with broken pieces of coloured glass. My wife is a glass artist. The glass rest in window sills and other places strategically placed for the sun to shine through the colour and paint the floors and walls with light. Broken pieces of glass that were salvaged in Indianapolis from our church. There had been a group of people repairing and replacing the stain glass in the building and when the project was completed the remains of glass were put in storage. Some years later as the storage was being cleared out for more important things to store or a classroom to fit in the storage room the glass was moving to the trash bin. My wife claimed it or saved it depending on your point of view. It came to our house and sat in our garage. Two large rubbermaid containers full of broken pieces of coloured glass. Trash or something that could create beauty. A few pieces made it into windows in Indy but when we moved to another house they were stored. As we began to pack for our around the world move, the move from one hemisphere to the other, I strongly suggested that the glass pieces did not need to make the move. Why would we put broken glass into a container that was being shipped. We have limited space and this does not need to be part of our stuff. I am happy to say that I was wrong. I was not happy when i loaded the majority of the glass up in boxes to travel but I am now. The glass paints colour across our walls each day reminding us of God’s beauty and the beauty of the community we have been a part of.

Broken pieces of glass. Jesus prays that He is glorified in us. That is hard to believe. Our view of ourselves can be deceptive. We can feel great about who we are, we can feel we are a lost cause, we can feel that we are most deserving or not deserving at all. We can feel used or an overcomer. Our perception of ourself can be defined internally and externally. The mirror tells us one thing and the mirror of society tells us another. But Jesus says that we glorify Him. No matter our view, His view is that in Him we bring Him glory. Broken pieces of glass that paint colour across the world. Worthy to be kept and worthy to be sent and worthy to be displayed. We bring Him glory.

Action

Take time to recognize, celebrate and practice the art of giving glory to Christ just they way you are. Just the way He has made you.

Scripture

John 17:6-19

“”I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 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. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 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 ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”
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Prayer

You pray for us. You intercede for us. You speak to the Father for us. Teach us to trust that your pray is effective. Let us rest in your prayer. Spirit hold us as you groan with incomprehensible sounds. Let us rest in you.

Meditation

Christ executes the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual intercession for us. That is the answer to question 25 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, how does Christ execute the office of priest? He intercedes.

My favorite musical artist is Sting ( i know that my coolness factor has fallen in some of your eyes now) with the police they sang a song, “Oh My God” here are the lyrics:

Everyone I know is lonely
With God so far away
And my heart belongs to no one
So now sometimes I pray
Take the space between us
Fill it up some way
Take the space between us
Fill it up, fill it up
Oh my God you take the biscuit
Treating me this way
Expecting me to treat you well
No matter what you say
How can I turn the other cheek
It’s black and bruised and torn
I’ve been waiting
Since the day that I was born, fill it up, fill it up, fill it up
Take the space between us
Fill it up some way
Take the space between us
Fill it up, fill it up, fill it up, fill it up, fill it up, fill it up
Fat man in his garden
Thin man at his gate
My God you must be sleeping
Wake up, it’s much too late
Take the space between us
Fill it up some way
Take the space between us
Fill it up, fill it up, fill it up, fill it up, fill it up, fill it up
Do I have to tell the story
Of a thousand rainy days
Since we first met
It’s a big enough umbrella
But it’s always me that ends up getting wet

Here is a link for the song if you want to hear it. https://youtu.be/XKCrT_DnwgY

Take the space between us and fill it up some way. Often we can feel that space. God seems to be holding the umbrella and we are still getting wet. In this prayer Jesus says he is praying for us. He intercedes for us. When we don’t feel like praying He is praying. When we don’t have the right words He is praying. When are words are forced His are true. Christ prays for us.

Action

We can pray for those around us know that Jesus is praying for them. Find yourself praying with Jesus today for those around you. See if you can say a prayer for every face you see. As simple as that you for this person please rest on them today. You will be attached to them in a new way.

Lenten Meditation Day 14 2017

Scripture

John 17:6-19

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 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. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 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. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.[a] 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them[b] in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself,[c] that they also may be sanctified[d] in truth.

Prayer

You are the Word made flesh. You are the recipient of our lives. Your Father sent you to us and gave us to you. You hold us and intercede for our protection. You have provided and you are the Truth. Forgive us when we put other names on you; when we give you roles that are not yours. Forgive us for following false and personal “Jesus”. Guide us to find you and only you. Amen.

Meditation:

In the last week I found a hack for gmail that allows me to have a preview pane. I have missed this feature since moving away from an Outlook email platform. I have little idea about much of what I just wrote. What I do know is I am able to see who sent me the email and part of the body of the email, which allows me to determine how quickly I need to open said email. Often times I can delete it straight away because the sender and information I see in the preview pane let me know that it is spam or an advertisement or a forwarded message (did I just write that?). If I only had the body of the email I would need to use context and clues to figure out who sent it. If I only have a sender but don’t have the body then I am not sure of the email’s significance. Is it a love note, an action that needs to be done, a shared funny story, and agenda or invitation? I guess what I am trying to say is I like to see both who sent the email and what it is about in a fuller way than just the subject line lets on.

Jesus is the message, the context and content, who is sent by God to reveal Himself toward us. This gives so much weight and authority to Jesus and His life. He did not just show up. God sent HIm. This is purposeful and direct. This is not a spur of the moment rush. God sent Jesus and Jesus came. He came to manifest God. He came to proclaim and provide the way to a right relationship with God, ourselves, others and place. Lots of people just see the content of the message and then they only want to look at the parts they like or they relate to most. As important as the content is the sender. Who sent the message validates the content. It gives us a place of assurance and rest.

We have all received an email from a prince who has money to give us. The content is exciting but the sender is false. We have received emails where the content was a hyperlink to something from one we love. The sender is real but the content is false because their account was hacked. In Christ, the Word made flesh, the content and sender, God, is Truth.

Action

We are sent as well. God sends us into this world to manifest His name. Find a way to do that today.

Scripture

John 17:6-19

 

I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 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. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 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. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.[a] 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them[b] in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself,[c] that they also may be sanctified[d] in truth.

 

Prayer

Teach me to believe I am a gift and not a burden.  Teach me to see myself as yours and your delight, not as a problem that needed to be solved.  Teach me to know my worth is beyond how I perceive myself, beyond what I accomplish, beyond any position or place I may hold.  Teach me to see others whom you have given to Jesus as gifts and not burdens, as people to delight in and not problems to solve.  Teach me to count their worth according to how you perceive them and not my arbitrary values and metrics.  Teach me this through Christ.  Amen.

 

Meditation

Were you a child who would look through the Sears/ToysRUs/Myer Christmas toy catalogue and mark the things you most desired?  Would you leave it open to certain pages in order to give hints to those who might be purchasing gifts for you?  Did you anticipate the day, whether Christmas Eve or day, that you would receive your gifts with joy and celebration?  Were you disappointed after opening them?  Satisfied?

 

In the TV show Monk detective Monk would say of his OCD, which enabled him to be a very astute detective, “It’s a gift and a curse.”  My perspective is that Jesus could say the same thing about His disciples and followers.  “They are a gift and a curse.”  We are given to Jesus from the Father (see vs 6).  We are a gift.  The disciples were slow to understand what Jesus was doing and saying.  They would bicker among themselves.  They would position themselves to receive honor.  A gift and a curse.  

In saying this I know that many of us just see the curse part.  We see ourselves and wonder why God would save us.  Listen to Christ’s prayer.  We are a gift.  We are beloved.  We have been given to Jesus by the Father who had us completely.  We are the people of His possession.  He is our God and He gives us as a gift to Jesus.  And Jesus takes us as that gift.  

 

Action

When we know we are gifts, we can begin to see others as gifts.  Think of the people in your lives, both the easy people and hard people, and praise God for them as a gift to you.  Praise God for how they are a gift because of how the Father has uniquely crafted them.  

Scripture/ Prayer/ Meditation/ Action

Psalm 136

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew[a] Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
17 to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

Lenten Meditation Day 10 2017

Scripture

Psalm 40

I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is the man who makes
the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!
5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.
6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
but you have given me an open ear.[a]
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
8 I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance[b]
in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O Lord.
10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.
11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
ever preserve me!
12 For evils have encompassed me
beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
my heart fails me.
13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
O Lord, make haste to help me!
14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
15 Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”
16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
17 As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!

Prayer

Father, let me not hide your steadfast love. You remember it always, let it be every present in my mind. Keep me from shame, doubt, and the lie of my own doing. I am poor but you have thought of me. Thank you for your deliverance. Amen

Meditation

Have you ever been to an amusement park when they were opening a new roller coaster? When the gates open everyone makes their way toward the new coaster. They can’t wait to get there and experience the thrill and adrenaline. As you draw closer to the ride you see a queue or line of people. “Is this the line for the Shockwave?” They sigh and responded, “Yes.” So you get behind them. After about fifteen minutes and very little movement you come upon a sign that informs you that from that spot the wait time is 2 hours 15 minutes. You think that maybe you should go ride other rides and come back when the line is over but you are sure it will never be short so you stay in line. People pass by shaking their heads wondering why anyone would stay in line. You build quick friendships with those around you sharing stories of all the other roller coasters you have ridden. Talking about how great this ride will be. Comparing notes of longest length of time you had waited in line before. You pass the sign that says 1 hour 30 minutes to the ride and you celebrate. Someone tries to go buy food for the group ahead of you and get back in line. You have to decide if you show grace or send them all to the back. More people walk by shaking their heads. Someone yells to the line that there are plenty of other rides in the park. You pass the sign that says 45 minutes till the ride. You are almost there. Someone notices that the weather looks a bit overcast and wonders if the ride shuts down in a storm. You check the weather app radar and it might hold off until after you ride. You have tired of the friends you had made in line because they seem to want to “one up” every story you tell. Soon we will be on the ride and away from them. You are now going through the weaving of the line. You are in the experience. There are video screens telling you about the ride, a story that goes along with the “Shockwave” name. You begin to negotiate with your riding partners. Do you try to get into the very front or very back car. You know this will make your wait longer but it will be worth it. You decide and wait the extra 1 minutes to ride the front and you climb aboard. The clicking of the chain as you ascend the first hill is exhilarating. You reach the top and zoom down an almost 90 degree drop. After some corkscrew rolls, loops and quick turns you are back at the beginning. A total of 2 minutes 20 seconds spent on the ride. You can’t wait to ride it again so to the back of the line you head.

Patient waiting on the Lord requires us to have complete trust in His steadfast love. People will shake their heads at you and tell you of other ways. You will have deep relationship and conflicts with those you are walking with. It sometimes seems like God only appears for a moment and then is gone, but He is not. His thoughts are toward you and His steadfast love preserves you.

Action:

Make a list of the appears of God in your life. Those moments when it, to you, seems He is most present. Praise Him for those moments. And Praise Him for the moments it seems that He is not there but is.

Scripture:

John 17

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 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. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 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. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.[a] 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them[b] in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself,[c] that they also may be sanctified[d] in truth.

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 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. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 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. 24 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. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 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.”

Meditation and Action:

We are on day 10 so it is a good time to go back and read and meditate on the whole prayer. Look for unity, love, glory as key words. What is Jesus purpose? What is He asking for? Who has us and who gives us? Where is the authority? Is there something you fear in this prayer? Is there something you desire? Is there something you doubt? Write it out and keep it as we continue this journey through this prayer.

Prayer:

Father, we know that you heard your Son when He prayed this prayer. Make us one. Let us live in your love so the world can know you. Amen