John 17

“After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you….”

3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent….

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one….

17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth….

21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—

23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me,”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭1‬, ‭3‬, ‭15‬, ‭17‬, ‭21‬-‭23‬, ‭NIV‬‬.

Do we realize the gift of the Holy Spirit was given to us because Jesus asked that it would be? John 17.

Jesus asked for us to be sanctified as He was and to receive glory from the Father as He did. It meant that we were to receive His Name and His character! This is only possible through the Holy Spirit! Jesus’ Spirit given freely to all believers to have as a free gift! This was what Jesus was asking His Father to do!

Some say it was part of God’s plan all along…but it happened because Jesus asked. “You have not because we ask not.” Jesus asked!

Do you understand how huge this moment in time actually was? Mankind now has the potential to have the power of God! God is still in control, because man has a history with being stupid with power. However, we have that gift if and when we use it to glorify God and build up His kingdom. His very own Spirit can live in us and help us accomplish the task that Jesus started and we get to continue: to build the church! Not a building but a people group dedicated to follow God and to do His good works that He has purposed for us to do. And this gift was issued into existence because Jesus prayed!

I have a mug that I use occasionally that says, “Prayer changes things.”

I thought it was cute.

After reading this passage and understanding the Holy Spirit was an answer to Jesus’ prayer, I handle the mug with a bit more reverence. Not that the mug has any power or true significance—that all belongs to God. If the mug broke today, that doesn’t mean my spirit is broken. The mug is just a tangible reminder of an “aha moment” I had with God!

Prayer does change things. It changes our hearts towards God. It changes our hearts toward each other. It can give us the power needed to obey. Prayer can protect us from the evil one and keep our path of righteousness clear of obstructions.

Prayer covers a multitude of sins. It can bring healing and hope.

Prayer does change things because of Jesus’ prayer for us.

When was the last time you saw God answer your prayers? When was the last time you prayerfully asked God’s will to be done in your request, ready to accept the “No,” but hopeful for a “Yes”? Are you ready to pray, “Father, Your will be done, not my own”?

Father,

Thank You for listening to Your children’s requests. All of them. You filter, You grant, and You reject because certain prayers aren’t beneficial, only detrimental.

Thank You for your wisdom. Thank You for teaching us to pray beginning with Psalm 23 and Matthew 6. Thank You that You hold us accountable with Your firm “No,” because our hearts weren’t right before You.

Teach us how to pray to be heard—with contrite hearts. To truly be humble in the sight of the LORD.

Help us to know humble-joy. Joy that is given as strength and hope, with a little bounce of excited anticipation.

We ask in Jesus’ Name, with His character and with Kingly authority, knowing what is right and best for us and Your Kingdom,

Amen.