Spiritual DisciplinesSample

Day 3- Praying with Purpose

Discover: This passage in John highlights Jesus’ prayer for himself, his disciples, and all believers. Known as the High Priestly Prayer, Jesus prays for God’s glory, protection, and sanctification for his followers and unity among all believers. In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul explains that, even in our anxieties, we can pray with thanksgiving to God, who gives us peace that will guard our hearts and minds.

Learn: This prayer from Jesus is his longest recorded prayer in all of Scripture. Knowing His death was coming, Jesus took time to pray in private for 3 types of people: Himself, His disciples, and all believers. In the first five verses, Jesus prays for himself for God’s glory to be revealed through His upcoming sacrifice on the cross, showing that he desires to fulfill God’s plan. Much of this prayer speaks on his disciples and asks for protection from evil, sanctification from the Holy Spirit, joy to be present, and unity between the disciples. While this prayer is focused on God’s glory, it is also focused on our good. Lastly, Jesus prays for all believers who would come to know Him one day. He wants them to be united, love one another, and know that Jesus was sent from heaven. In this prayer, Jesus speaks of the world nine times and mentions his disciples and other believers 50 times! Knowing that Jesus was about to die, he felt very anxious (Mark 14:33-34). One thing he did in his anxiety was to pray to God, which is what Paul says to do in Philippians 4:6-7. Praying amid anxiety shows that we are reliant on God giving us peace in trying circumstances.

Apply: Praying with purpose will give us a sense of direction in our prayers. Jesus prayed for himself, his friends, and all other believers, which is a great way to pray in our lives. We must pray for Christ to be glorified in our lives, which is the main purpose of the Christian life. We should also pray for our friends as they walk with God and all Christians around the world. Intentionality is one of the greatest assets to possess during prayer, as it shows that we care about others in our spiritual life. We as Christians also need to practice these things in the prayer. Unity is a big theme in this chapter and should be something we chase after with other believers. Many times we let small things tear us apart, but the Holy Spirit wants to work in our lives for us to be closer to each other as we glorify God. Moving forward, our first response to anxiety should be prayer. Whether it be an upcoming test, a big decision, or a change in family dynamics, God will give you the peace that surpasses all understanding when we pray in our anxiety.

· How does Jesus' High Priestly Prayer deepen your understanding of purposeful prayer and how can you incorporate aspects of this prayer in your life?

· What can you do to glorify God in all things?

· Much of this prayer emphasizes unity. Why do you think unity is so important, and how can we work towards it in our everyday interactions with other Christians?

· How can you apply Philippians 4:6-7 to your daily life, especially in moments of anxiety or stress?