Thursday, May 25, 2017

Thursday Devotional - Prayer for Protection

Do you pray for protection frequently? Maybe it’s for yourself as you drive next to all those people texting. Maybe it’s for your family and friends as they are also on the roads with those distracted drivers. Maybe it’s for loved ones travelling overseas. Maybe it’s for yourself as you walk to your car at night or go home to an empty house. Maybe it’s for your children as they go off to school or play outside.

In parenting 2 toddlers, I’m more and more amazed anyone survives to adulthood! It is a miracle! At the park the other day, James and Sarah were playing on a movable bridge. James is excellent at climbing and decided to show me how he could climb on the outside of it! As I was jogging around the perimeter of the play area, I started praying for their physical safety but then immediately thought of Jesus’ prayer for His disciples in John 17. He prayed more for their spiritual protection than their physical earthly protection.

John 17:10-19 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 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. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 “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. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
As I thought of Jesus’ prayer, I moved from praying for James and Sarah’s physical safety to their spiritual growth and protection. Jesus’ prayer is such a wonderful example of what we can pray for others:
  • unity in Christ (vs. 11)
  • protection from Satan (vs. 15)
  • knowledge of God’s truth (vs. 17)
  • sanctification (growth in holiness; set apart from the world and for God) (vs. 17-19)

The next time you and I pray for physical protection, let’s remember to pray for these spiritual aspects of protection for ourselves and others.  

Alice

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