10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
Jesus is heavily invested in me – and that’s a severe under-statement. What strikes me, and strengthens me, is His prayer for my protection. He’s protecting me just as He protected His original disciples. He hasn’t forgotten me or abandoned me. He’s still with me.
I am absolutely protected by “the power of His Name” and by “the truth of His Word.” Then, while I am kept completely safe, He sends me out into a hostile world to do His work. For me, this is the root of my confidence and the source of my courage. Jesus covers my risk. He’s thought of everything in advance of any threat. I go in His Name, armed with Scripture.
God is calling me to take heart. To take in His peace and joy because I’m claimed as His and perfectly secure. I am constantly reminded and reassured – and ready to step into the middle of a family’s conflict, to encourage leaders of a street ministry in Richmond, to go strong and without fear into Haiti. As long as I’m certain of this promise – of God’s presence protecting me.
Doug Stevens, Pastor
The Leadership Connection – Bay Area
Brother Doug – I know in Haiti you saw in dramatic ways the very protection you chose to walk in! I hope you will share here some of the Father’s joy and protection you and Russ experienced!
All I have is yours and all you have is mine–through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and my adoption into Your family. Protect me from the evil one as I face a personal challenge this week–a challenge that relates to “surrendering all.” Sanctify me by Your truth–Your word is truth. I ask for Your strength, Father, as I face this challenge to be in the world but not of it as it relates to this personal challenge I must conquer.
Also wanted to give Him praise for yesterday–I was able to pray over two people with physical health challenges, and had an awesome opportunity in 1st period devotions at school to share the gospel in power with 25 kids who seemed to all be listening intently to the invitation and challenge the Holy Spirit was delivering to them through the devotion. It was pretty cool.
It is so reassuring to know that I am protected. That although the enemy will incessantly continue to try to tempt me God has given me all the tools I need to thrive. I love the part that saids, “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” WOW, FULL measure of joy. I pray that I may I have full measure of joy and reveal it with every person I encounter and that God work through my hands so that I may relieve pain both physically and emotionally as I’m sent into the world.
Ah–great reminder, Ara! The joy of the Lord is my strength–I will take that as I face my challenge this week. Go overflow onto your patients!
What an amazing day!! So armed with joy even though physically I felt exhausted. I had a comfortably busy morning at work. Connecting with 2 patients in particular. One, who I found is also a believer and we began sharing the gospel and our experiences. Which I thought was great! And I had another patient who previously was in tears but today was full of joy. She mentioned “boy, you sure we’re meant to this kind of job.” I completely agreed!!! I told her I loved what I do for a living and that it was my calling, to help people like her =) Needless to say it was a joy filled day!!
What I am hearing today is :17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world…..Lord surround me with truth today , truth in my character and truthfulness of those around me. help me know right from wrong when it comes to the things of this world today. At work Today I will be me …loving ,kind and patient and not let the hub bub of thw world get me frustrated and untruthful with myself and thsoe around me.
Oh and luckily for me(a hint of sarcasm )Gods not done with me on the smoking thing ….Today I also have to be truthful with what I hear God continueing to say to me and that is DONT smoke….. so Just for today again I will not smoke also…
Great! Strength for today! I’ll be praying.
Awesome Jami!
Me too! Love that the truth can set us free!
I hearJesus saying that he gave his all, so thatwe might have the glory of God,his protection ,his love ,his truth is there for us all today i will share with anyony i can the promise of Gods love.
So far, all of the readings have led me to similar conclusions. God is reminding me so see people through HIs eyes, listen to them, listen to God. Be present.
The scripture this morning and Doug’s words reminded me that this protection is spiritual, not physical, so my prayer for myself would be not to be fearful of physical hardships because of my belief and that this would give me a boldness I do not have today.
I hear the ‘they’ and ‘them’ in Jesus’ prayer, knowing that ‘they’ and ‘them’ are you and me. As I go into the world and represent him–in the midst of the distractions, temptations, and stupid behavior all around–he is praying for me. He is right there, all the time. Amen to that!
In verse 11, Jesus asked of God to protect us ‘by the power of your name’. How awesome is that! I feel so good today! So blessed.
I’m familiar with the phrase, “We are in the world but not of the world.” But what is stirred in me today is the better understanding of “We are sent into the world but are not of the world.” Big missional difference for me. Eager to see how I’m sent today.
I hear a reminder that the evil one is real, but Jesus prayed we’d be protected. I hear God saying to be mindful of the evil one’s presence in the world today, as I move out into the world, but to go with confidence knowing of His protection. I pray that the bubble of protection that I am covered with, will also cover those I meet with and guard them from the evil one as well.
Yesterday, as I tried to be more of aware of doing what the Father wanted me to do I found a simple spiritual conversation with a man who used the phrase, “Rob Peter to pay Paul” It was exciting to witness God’s direction in this.
Today, I love Doug’s response to the passage when he starts with “Jesus is heavily invested in me” – and I hear the call to more abandon and risk in conversations. Today will involve many opportunities and I will purpose to engage with people because God has my back!
WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO ME THRU THESE VERSES?
My Lord prays for my protection from the evil one. That is truly amazing. This world is so full of the work of the evil one, I sometimes life my life out of fear.
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT IT TODAY?
Today I’m going to consciously be on the look-out for the existence of God’s protection, rather than the wreckage of the evil one. I won’t watch the news on TV today. I know this isn’t a monumental transformation in my life but for this one day I’ll focus more on His kingodm.
Martha I like what your saying about “looking-out for the existence of God’s protection, rather than the wreckage of the evil one.” Thank you for sharing that , I will be on the look out with you:)
Reading our Lord’s words again brought renewed joy and assurance that only He can give. And, your expression is so beautifully written and flows with inspiration. Thank you.
I hear Jesus asking the Father to protect us so that we may be
one (in unity) as He and the Father are One. (v.11)
Today, I will trust in that protection as I express some thoughts and feelings to one of my “siblings in Christ”.
Lord, protect our unity in You!
God always uses “so that” to catch my attention. “I say these things . . . so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” I want the full measure of Jesus’ joy! I comes from knowing I have a caring Heavenly Father who protects, and yet Jesus’ joy springs from unity He prays His followers will have together with Him and the Father. This unity, joy, protection turns on abiding which itself turns on doing i.e. trusting obedience, leaning into the Father’s voice.
This morning, my do is already done. My feeling was to withdraw, to distance myself from the real work that is the unity Jesus prays I will be a part. Through obedience, putting myself were the Father was leading, I experienced His protection. The Father used Eric, Sean and Mike, the very oneness we share in Him to protect me from the strikes of the evil one. Thank You Father for reminding me who I am and breathing the Joy in Jesus into me again.
I already was able to share this a.m. with another “bruised reed” and become an instrument of healing joy in this person’s life.
I hear God saying that I am protected by the very power of His name. I hear Him calling me to be one with Him just like He and Jesus are one. I hear Him saying that He withholds nothing – that everything He has is mine…yet I am so stingy with what I give Him in return. I cannot honestly say that all I have is His. I do not purposely withhold – I forget, I get distracted, I am afraid.
Today I will not withhold – I will remember that all I have is His and it’s to be used for His purposes and His glory.
I hear God assuring me of the daily home I have with him, a place of encouragement, welcome, and protection. I feel called to try to reveal that world that I’m “of” in small ways to people today in the world where I am.
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. Is where I hear Jesus today. I will commit to coming to this site each day for the 40 days to listen and then to put into action what I hear God saying.
I am reminded again of the powerful truth that my confidence isn’t in some program I subscribe to but in a Person [Jesus]whose marching orders I follow! I will live today…tomorrow with the promise that I AM a majority in any crowd, in any situation because the I AM arms me with His truth and the safety net to RISK! Doug, love the line of Jesus covering my risk. Time to go!
This verse gives such comfort – Jesus is my advocate that I can be one with God. I should not get discouraged – Jesus is on my side and I am not of this world. But, I am in this world. I can’t ignore this world. What specifically does God want me to do? I have thought about it all day and don’t have a brilliant “do” to report. All I can do is to continue to try to listen to God, instead of the world. When my mind starts to drift to worldly distractions and frustrations I will pray that God protects me and reveals the “do” he wants from me. I will focus on the fact that “the word is truth” and seek to obediently follow the word, even if I don’t understand why. I will pray for the situations and people that frustrate me. Then I just sit back and see what God has in mind . . . . ?
I am reminded of the protection that has gone before me, with me and behind me. I shall live through today with peace and not chained by fear.
I hear that I need to trust in the Lord. If the outcome seems “unsafe or harmful” my desire is that everything I do will be used to bring glory to the ultimate name on earth. Jesus Christ.
Two things spoke to me:
One, Doug says, “Jesus covers my risk. He’s thought of everything in advance of any threat. I go in His Name, armed with Scripture.” HOw comforting for the battle! The battle of self, the battle of chronic illness or pain!
Also: John 17: verse 17 “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” I am reminded that the truth of God’s word, truth from his community and those who follow him, literally restore and sanctify ( “set apart as or declare holy; consecrate”). It is a dwelling, a place where I live . Do I live in a place that is detached from evil and dellusion? Can I see what God has placed before me to manage and give back to him? What do we choose? Thanks, everyone for your comments.