Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. John 17:7,8a ~Jesus’ Prayer (NLT)

Shortly before His death and resurrection, Jesus prayed for his disciples. It is recorded for us in John 17 when the beloved disciple of Jesus eavesdropped, captured the prayer, wrote it down, and shared it with us. Read it in its entirety, and be greatly encouraged as well as challenged, for these are the thoughts and desires that dominated the heart of our Lord when He interceded for us.

Let’s borrow bits and pieces of His prayer, and pray this powerful, anointed prayer over our children today…

Father,

I have done my best to reveal You to the ones you gave me…I have passed on the message You gave me in Your Word. [Here we might want to do a little repenting for where we’ve missed it, and don’t forget to receive His forgiveness and grace!]

My prayer is for those you have given me because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me. (Thank You, Lord, for the gift they are!)

Protect them by the power of Your Name. I have given them your word.

They do not belong to this world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than You did, Jesus, when you walked this earth.

Make them holy by your truth. Teach them your word which is Truth. You are sending them into the world as God sent Jesus into the world. And you gave yourself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

Father, I pray that they will be one as you and Jesus are one. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent Jesus and that you love them just as much as you love Jesus!

Father, I want these whom you have given me to be together, working side by side with me in Your Kingdom. I have done my best to reveal them to you, and I will continue to do so.

In Jesus’ Name and with His very own words, Amen!

Photo courtesy of Foter.com