Day 15: Luke 22:39-40, 45-46

39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Prayer Lesson: The Garden of Gethsemane sits at the base of the Mount of Olives. A fitting location for what is about to expire. Humanity was created in the perfect Garden of Eden. Their sin cast them out of it. One day every redeemed person will experience a perfect new garden in the eternal city of God (Revelation 21-22). Gethsemane was a garden filled with the Savior’s sorrow. And disciples who couldn’t resist the flesh. That’s life between the two gardens. A place of sorrow and temptation. In the midst of His own suffering, Jesus selflessly took time to encourage the disciples to pray for strength. Jesus knew where to go when suffering and He knew where to send the disciples when they were tempted. Do we? Bring your suffering and temptation to the Father.

Prayer for Today: What are some painful things you are facing? In what way are you feeling tempted by sin? Find a solitary place. Even better, find a garden. Bring those things to God in prayer.

Luke 22:39-46, 23:33, 23:44-46; Matthew 27:46

Day 14: John 17:25-26

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.”

Prayer Lesson: The end of Jesus’ priestly prayer is a reminder that we have the love of God when we have embraced the Son of God. What greater thing to dwell on than the love of God! It’s such a simple truth we learned as kids: “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” As adults, we need to remind ourselves of this glorious truth. Remember, every time you go to pray, the loving Father is glad to hear from you.

Prayer for Today: Take some time today reading about the love of God in Romans 8:28-39. List five ways God has demonstrated His love for you over the last year. Take time and thank Him for each of the ways.

Day 13: John 17:24

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.”

Prayer Lesson: This verse is a reminder that Jesus has existed for eternity (“you loved me before the foundation of the world”). And it’s only through Jesus that anyone can spend eternity with the Heavenly Father. Jesus prayed that we would be with Him. He is praying for the souls of mankind. Are we? Do we pray passionately for others to be saved from sin and saved for eternity?

Prayer for Today: Take some time to thank God for saving your soul. Next, think of family members, friends, and coworkers who are not followers of Jesus. Pray for each of them by name. Pray for their salvation.

Day 12: John 17:20-23

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.”

Prayer Lesson: Unity is the clear theme of Jesus’ prayer for the believers in vs. 20-23. Jesus uses the word “one” four times in these four verses. On multiply occasions He uses the example of Himself and the Father, who perfectly modeled relational unity. Jesus reveals two reasons unity is important at the end of v. 23: So the world may know Jesus and God’s love for them. Our loving unity with each other is a powerful witness to the world.

Prayer for Today: Is there a lack of unity in your life? With a spouse, sibling, coworker, or person at church? Unity has eternal ramifications. As the apostle John put it in John 13:35: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Take time to pray for unity in your home life, work life, and church life.

Day 11: John 17:14-19

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. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them 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, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

Prayer Lesson: Jesus’ prayer for His disciples was that God would protect them from the world and from Satan. If we are really living the life of a disciple, there will be a target on our back. We will face persecution. We need God’s strength to endure. The temptation is to just live like the world. That’s why Jesus also prayed that God would “sanctify them in the truth.” In other words, Jesus prayed that they would not compromise holiness in an unholy world. One of our greatest weapons against the enemy, and against our own sinful tendencies, is the power of prayer. Use it, and use it often.

Prayer for Today: Are you facing any persecution for your faith? How about some one you know? If so, pray for yourself or them. Is there any areas of compromise in your life? If so, ask God to forgive you and to give you the strength and courage to stand up for holiness.

Day 10: John 17:6-13

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.”

Prayer Lesson: There’s a lot Jesus says about His disciples. Let’s just focus on the three things He prayed for. Jesus asked the Father: “keep them in your name,” “that they may be one,” and “that they may have my joy.” Basically, Jesus prayed the following for His disciples: Keep them safe. Keep them unified. Keep them joyful. What great things to pray for, for ourselves and for others.

Prayer for Today: How do you need God’s protection? How about someone you care about? Do you need to pursue unity with someone? Are you, or someone you know, struggling to find joy? Pray for safety, unity, and joy today, for you and for others.

John 17

Day 9: John 17:1-5

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, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

Prayer Lesson: The first thing Jesus prayed was that He would glorify the Father with His upcoming death on the cross. We learn from vs. 2-3 that Jesus provides eternal life. He then prays that the Father would glorify Him by resurrecting Him after His death. And that, of course, is exactly what happened. We are “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20), which means we are to represent who Jesus is with our lives and with our words. We should regularly pray that God would help us glorify Him in a world that desperately needs Him.

Prayer for Today: Who are five people in your life that do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Take time today praying that they may come to know Him. Pray for open doors to be able to share the gospel with them. Also, take a little time to ask God to reveal areas of your life that need changed so that you can better glorify God to those around you.

Day 8: John 17:1,6,20

1 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.”

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.”

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word

Prayer Lesson: There are three different individuals Jesus prayed for in John 17: Himself (vs. 1-5), His disciples (6-19), and other future followers (20-26). Jesus offers up what is called intercessory prayer (interceding to God on behalf of others). This is an important part of our prayer life. Of course we should bring our own burdens to the Father, but that should be balanced with prayer towards others. Jesus gives us a great model: pray for yourself, pray for your family/friends, and pray for other needs you become aware of.

Prayer for Today: Follow the model of Jesus today. Take time to pray for needs that you have. Make a list of family and friends and think of ways you can pray for them. Outside of your family and friends, what are some other prayer needs you’re aware of? Pray for them as well.