chrisaltrock.com

Today is the 22nd day of Lent, a 40 day season of spiritual reflection, repentance, and renewal.  During these 40 days we’ll explore the prayer life of Jesus, walking chronologically through every mention of Jesus’ prayer life and prayers in the Gospels.

Here is today’s prayer event: 9I 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. 11And 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. (Jn. 17:9-12 ESV)

These lines are part 1 of a 3 part prayer which Jesus lifts on behalf of his disciples.  Here, what he has been doing (”I have kept them in your name”) he now asks the Father to do (”keep them in your name”).  As the disciples have prepared for their mission, Jesus has kept them, guarded them, and protected them.  Now, as the disciples pursue their mission, Jesus asks the Father to keep them, guard them, and protect them.  Jesus places them in the protective custody of the Father so they may engage fully in ministry.

Think of the names of people or organizations who are involved heavily in ministry, Christian charity, or Christian education.  Spend this day in constant prayer for them, asking the Father to keep them, protect them, and guard them.

SHARE WITH READERS BELOW ONE PERSON/ORGANIZATION YOU ARE PRAYING FOR TODAY

[image]

Today is the 21st day of Lent, a 40 day season of spiritual reflection, repentance, and renewal.  During these 40 days we’ll explore the prayer life of Jesus, walking chronologically through every mention of Jesus’ prayer life and prayers in the Gospels.

Here is today’s prayer event:  1When 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, 2since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.  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. 7Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8For 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. (John 17:1-8 ESV)

Here, Jesus prays, “The hour has come.”  In other words, “It’s time to die.”  It is the darkest moment of Jesus’ life to-date.  “It’s time to die.”

Yet rather than pray a lament or complaint, which would be well-deserved, Jesus offers a prayer of confidence: “Glorify me with glory.”

“Glory” and “glorify” are important words in John.  They are found 14 times in the first 11 chapters and 19 more times in the Gospel’s concluding chapters.  They are used 10 times in this prayer.

Here, the words carry two possibilities.  First, Jesus may be praying for God to exalt him.  Just as his death on the cross will be inglorious, so he prays for God to follow that death with a glorious resurrection.  He prays for God to exalt him

Second, Jesus may be praying for God to reveal himself through the death.  In the Old Testament, God’s glory is his visible manifestation (e.g., Ex. 16:7,10).  Jesus may be praying that through the crucifixion and resurrection, God will reveal himself.

Both possibilities point in the same direction: Jesus prays that through this painful time, God will bring the best from the bad; God will bring triumph from tragedy; God will let the Story end spectacularly.

The word “glory” carried then as it does now the hint of light.  Something that is glorious is something that is full of light.  Jesus prays that out of this darkness, God will bring light.

Consider a painful time in your life.  Pray for God to bring triumph where you see only tragedy.  Pray for God to bring the best from the bad.  Pray for the Story to end spectacularly.  Pray for God to bring light from the darkness.

SHARE A TIME IN WHICH GOD BROUGHT LIGHT FROM DARKNESS, TRIUMPH FROM TRAGEDY…

[image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilikefish/504718961/]

Today is the 19th day of Lent, a 40 day season of spiritual reflection, repentance, and renewal.  During these 40 days we’ll explore the prayer life of Jesus, walking chronologically through every mention of Jesus’ prayer life and prayers in the Gospels.

Here is today’s prayer event:  20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.” 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matt. 26:20-29 ESV)

What a stunning contrast–Jesus reveals his betrayer but then blesses the bread and gives thanks for the cup!  Here is another example of Jesus blessing–in this case, giving thanks.  Jesus has every reason to complain, to groan, and to grieve.  Yet, he blesses the bread and gives thank for the cup.

Jesus was following the prescribed routine associated with the Passover Meal.  By custom, he was supposed to bless the bread and give thanks for the cup.  Yet this scene demonstrates how habits and traditions like “saying grace” or “saying the blessing” can be critical.  Especially in difficult times, the simple habit of still “thanking God for this meal” can be formative.

Do you “say grace” at every meal?  Why?  Why not?  How could you be more intentional about this practice so that it cultivates a more thankful spirit within you?  When you do “say grace,” what do you say?  What other words/phrases might make this habitual prayer more formative?

[image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pepesanta/4367204563/]