Praying for You

It is a pleasant thing to learn that others are praying for us. If I’m being candid, there is a significant part of me that holds to the unbiblical idea that the prayers of others are so much more effective than my own feeble offerings. Cognitively I know this is untrue, but my gut says otherwise.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
– James 5:16, ESV

In this one brief verse, James establishes that it is good to pray for each other and that the prayers of the righteous are effective, no matter who you are praying for. My prayers are effective for me, and they are effective for you also. Your prayers are effective for you, and they are effective for me as well.

So, other than your own prayers, who is praying for you? I’ll give you one answer that should lift your spirits to unimaginable heights.

Jesus has prayed for you and he continues to do so to this day.

Jesus Prayed for You

In John 17, we find the longest recorded prayer from Jesus. It is twenty-six verses long and constitutes the entirety of the chapter. In this prayer, Jesus prays for his original disciples, and then for those who will come to faith based on the witness of those disciples. That is you and that is me. We believe in Jesus through the message and witness of his disciples.

I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
– John 17:9, ESV

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
– John 17:20, ESV

How can that not warm our hearts to know that just prior to his brutal trial, beating, and death, Jesus had you and me on his mind. Knowing what was to occur in the coming hours, my mind would be completely wrapped up in myself. But, Jesus is not like me, and for that we are all grateful!

Jesus Prays for You Still

Not only did Jesus pray for you the night before his crucifixion, he continues to intercede on your behalf. Yes, the man who died for your sins and rose for your justification now lives to intercede for you before the Father. That is an astounding truth with far-reaching implications.

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
– Romans 8:34, ESV

And to intensify this just a bit more, it is not only the exalted Christ who is interceding for us. The Holy Spirit of God intercedes as well. The Spirit intercedes especially for feeble praying guys like me. Therefore, I don’t have to be a great prayer orator, because the Holy Spirit is formatting my prayers in words that cannot even be uttered.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
– Romans 8:26-27, ESV

With both Jesus and the Holy Spirit interceding on my behalf, I can navigate life knowing I am safe and I am heard. So, what is it that Jesus prays on my behalf? How does he intercede? I believe we get some clues to that from what he prayed in John 17.

Our Keeping

Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me…
– John 17:11b, ESV

Our Unity

…that they may be one, even as we [the Son and Father] are one.
– John 17:11c, ESV [bracketed mine]

that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us
– John 17:21a, ESV

Our Protection

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
– John 17:15, ESV

Our Sanctification

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
– John 17:17, ESV

Our growth, our sanctification comes through spending time in God’s word, in truth.

Our Witness

…so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
– John 17:21b, ESV

Our Presence

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am.
– John 17:24, ESV

I believe we can find peace and assurance that with the Son petitioning the Father on our behalf in these things, the Father will grant the Son’s requests made on our behalf.

Blessings upon you, my friends.

Victoriously in Christ!

– damon

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