Category: Jesus Prays for Us

John 17: 18, 20 (NIV)
As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message…

Often we feel the weight of praying for those that we are reaching out to, and at times, we may feel that we haven’t prayed enough. But whether we have or have not been faithful in prayer, let us be reminded that Jesus himself is praying for them – he has already been praying for them from long ago! God’s salvation is in his hands. As God’s people, Jesus has us come into his own prayers for those who have yet to know him, and he does this because he wants us to know the joy of his salvation for others. God’s Holy Spirit even helps us to pray the prayers of Jesus’ heart for them – this is an amazing thing!

Today, let us be encouraged to come to Jesus, to lay down our burdens, to be brought in to learn the things of his heart as we live for God. Let’s trust in our gentle and humble Lord Jesus as we pray for the salvation of others.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you that salvation is in your hands! Thank you that you are already praying for those who have yet to know you, and you lead us by your Spirit to reach out to and pray for them. We trust in you for our own salvation, and for all those yet to come. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Let’s worship the Lord as we pray for those that the Lord places on our hearts with “The Praise is Yours” from Matt Redman (click here).

– JLiu

 

John 17: 11, 13 (NIV)
I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 

Luke 22: 32 (NIV)
But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.

What are some of the things that Jesus prayed for his disciples? Was it for great jobs or good reputations in the world? For good dating relationships and marriages? All these things are fine and well, but when Jesus prayed for his disciples, he prayed for the Father’s protection over them, for unity together in his name, and for his joy. He prayed for these things out of his great love for them. Jesus understood that unity in his name was an important part of protection for his disciples in the world. It is the same for us today – as Jesus’ disciples, how crucial it is that we are together as God’s church!

Jesus prays for our protection and unity as his people today, and like Simon Peter in Luke 22, we are also to strengthen and encourage one another. We are not alone, as Jesus Christ is with us, and we are with one another in Jesus’ name. We get to share in the joy of Christ as we live as Jesus’ disciples in this world.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that you understand and know what we need as we live as your disciples in this world. Thank you for your church, that we can be filled with your joy and encourage one another in Christ. As we gather together as missional groups and campuses this week, may the joy of Christ overflow. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In worship and thanksgiving, let’s sing “Singing Over Us” from Worship Central (click here).

– JLiu

 

1 John 2:1 NIV
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 

As Christians, our goal is to not sin. We have been saved and set free from the power of Sin by Jesus Christ, and as we grow up in him, we are blessed and we can know what is right. But in the process of growing up in Christ, we face moments of struggle and difficulty, and sometimes through our own failings due to sin. In these moments, we may feel alone.

But we are never alone! Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, is our permanent advocate. He stands for us and is always praying for us, helping us through the Holy Spirit to receive forgiveness, healing, and all that we need to persevere in living holy lives for God. Our own prayers, our strengths and abilities do not dictate our success and victory; it is Jesus’ prayers and Jesus’ strength that guarantee all of it. Jesus is actively praying for us so that we will persevere. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us take heart and be encouraged today, because Jesus is praying for us.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for always praying for us. Thank you that you never leave us alone, even when we fail. You are the One who is faithful, and we trust in you. Lord Jesus, what joy and freedom we have to know that we live in your faithfulness and not our own. Help us to be encouraged and to encourage one another towards Christ today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Let’s worship the Lord as we sing “We Praise You” from Matt Redman (click here).

– JLiu

 

Hebrews 7:24-25 NIV
But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

“We tend to operate as if Hebrews 7:25 says that Jesus ‘is able to save for the most part those who draw near to God through him.’ But the salvation Christ brings is panteles; it is comprehensive…Christ ‘is able to save to the uttermost.’

‘To the uttermost’ in Hebrews 7:25 means: God’s forgiving, redeeming, restoring touch reaches down into the darkest crevices of our souls, those places where we are most ashamed, most defeated. More than this: those crevices of sin are themselves the places where Christ loves us the most.” (Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers)

Jesus lives forever and unlike the high priests of long ago, his royal priesthood will never end. As human beings, we live within the confines of time, but Jesus, who is always interceding for us, is never limited by time. Jesus saves us “to the uttermost” in regards to time, in eternity and in the details of our present, as well as deep into who we are as human beings, to “the darkest crevices of our souls.” At no point does Jesus Christ hold back from loving us greatly.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us so perfectly and completely. You have saved us for eternity and you continue to intercede for us, to save us again and again each day. You never tire of loving and praying for us, always welcoming us to come to you with all of our needs and brokenness. Thank you that your love is endless. Help us to come to you again and again today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In worship and thanksgiving, let’s sing “Who Else” from Abbie Gamboa & Gateway Worship (click here).

– JLiu

Romans 8:33-34 NIV
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

“Christ’s present heavenly intercession on our behalf is a reflection of the fullness and victory and completeness of his earthly work, not a reflection of anything lacking in his earthly work. The atonement accomplished our salvation; intercession is the moment-by-moment application of that atoning work.” (Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers)

Christ Jesus, who loved us, died on the cross for us and was raised to life, what is he doing now? The Bible is clear – he is interceding for us, right now. Jesus’ intercession applies what his atoning work on the cross accomplished to our lives, and this is happening every day!

So, Jesus is intimately involved in our lives at every moment as he prays for us. In all circumstances of our lives, Jesus is with us and is always praying for us. Today, let us joyfully join with our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world in proclaiming, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:35, 37)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us and always praying for us. Thank you that you are always with us and helping us to live faithfully each day. Help us to depend on you in every situation we face, and may we continually join with your people in singing of your great love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

In worship and prayer, let’s sing “From Everlasting (Psalm 90)” from Sovereign Grace Music (click here).

-JLiu