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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