Biblical Support for the Journey - July 20, 2014

July 20 2014

Seated in the third row of chairs, I tune out the basic message I’ve heard so many times, hoping that at least Tony is getting something from this service.

“Lord, I really haven’t made any breakthroughs in months now…” I pray, determined not to waste this time of devotion. “Since that first night I haven’t felt that powerful pull. Am I still going in the right direction? Is there something more I need to be doing? Please forgive my lack of faith, but I have been wrong so many times…”

I refocus on the world around me. The pastor says, “This is the longest prayer ever recorded that Jesus prayed, just before He went to ask the Father to take this task from Him:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

"What verse was that?” I think. “That is almost exactly what I had begun praying! ‘Lord, I just want to be where You are so that I can come back and be a witness to people about Your glory, grace, and how great Your love is.’”

I use the index of my Bible app on my iPad. If it was just before He was in the garden, that would be near the end of a chapter of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John.

Following the inner urging of the Holy Spirit, I open to John 17, verse 20. Tears flood into my eyes as I smile. “Thank you God for urging me to come to church today. Without coming here, I would have never known that I was praying exactly as the Lord already had.”

Later that night, I changed my prayer. “Lord, thank You for praying for me. I accept Your prayer. Thank You for taking me to where You are so that I may see your glory!”

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