It is a great feeling to hear someone say, “I am praying for you.” Prayer is the most important gift that anyone can give. It is the force that persuades God to work on our behalf.
Of infinitely more value than a friend’s prayer is the knowledge that our Lord is even now praying for us. “Jesus – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Rom. 8:34). “He always lives to intercede for them” (Heb. 7:25).
We get an idea of how He is praying for us as we look at His prayer in John 17. Here Jesus prays first for Himself. Then He prays for His disciples and then He prays for those of us who follow. I think He would pray for us just as He did His first disciples. What did Jesus ask the Father to do for them? How is He praying for me now?
He prays first for Himself, “that the Son may glorify Thee” (v. 1). Should this not be our desire also? “That He should give eternal life” (v. 2). What a gift He has given us! “I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (v. 4). Can we say the same?
“I pray for them, I am not praying for the world” (v. 9). We enjoy a privileged position with Him. We are always on the mind of Jesus and the Father. “Protect them” (v. 11). Can anything happen to us without His permission? “That they may be one” (v. 11). The unity of all believers is the Lord’s strong desire. Are we doing everything we can to stress unity or are we being divisive and critical of each other? “That they may have the full measure of my joy” (v. 13). If we lack joy, is it because His prayer is ineffective, or am I not appropriating what He is providing? “That You protect them from the evil one” (v. 15). Remember the hedge God put around Job? We are safe from the evil one as long as we abide in Him. “Sanctify them” (v. 17). Sanctification is a process by which God engineers circumstances in such a way as to transform us into the character of Christ.
In v. 20, Jesus prays for us who believe as a result of the disciple’s message. In vv. 21 -23 He again prays that we be as one. In v. 24, He prays for us “to be with Me where I am.” See how He loves us? He wants us to enjoy eternity with Him. “To see My glory” (v. 24). We may think we know Him now, but we cannot imagine what it will be like to see Him in all His glory. “The love You have for Me may be in them” (v. 26). He desires that we experience the same depth of love that the Father has for the Son.
How does it make you feel to know Jesus is praying for you? What difference does it make in how we face life? When we have a problem, does it make a difference to know what is happening in heaven on our behalf? What a difference it should make in our faith and obedience!