Sent Into This World

 

 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

 

—John 17:15-18 (ESV)

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

 

I do not ask You to take me out of this world but ask that You keep me from the evil one and sanctify me in the truth of Your Word, as You send me into this world. 

 

Just as You sent Your Son, Jesus, into the world, You have sent me into the world, not to be of the world, but to be a light to illuminate the darkness of the world.

 

Just as Jesus prayed that You would sanctify His disciples by the truth—purifying and setting them apart to minister that truth as healing for this broken world—I pray that You would sanctify me with the truth for Your service to this world.

 

Protect and keep me from the temptation to become like the world. Grant me the wisdom and discernment to reject every scheme, trap, and lie of the enemy, and to replace it with the truth of Your Word. Deliver me from the evil one and his demons.

 

I do not ask You to take me out of this world but ask that You keep me from the evil one and sanctify me in the truth of Your Word, as you send me into this world. 

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

To Answer And Give Myself

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

—Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for showing me that is by the authority of Jesus Christ—and not my own authority—that I am sent out to make disciples.

Help me to answer and give myself to this call by faith—following the example of Your Son, Jesus. 

Help me pour myself into the lives of others around me to help them grow in faith—by increasing their understanding of who You are, of who they are in Christ, of Your plan of salvation, of Your purpose for their lives, and helping them to see Your unfailing love for them—so they, too, can then pour their lives into the lives of others and continue the work of Christ.

Help me to teach them to obey Your commandments—so they can walk in the blessings that come from obedience, so the Good News of Jesus can be spread throughout the world, and so our world will be changed one life at a time.

Thank You that—as I commit myself to Your call—You have promised to be with me always.

Thank You for showing me that is by the authority of Jesus Christ—and not my own authority—that I am sent out to make disciples.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Walking In Freedom

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

—John 8:31-32 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Help me always to remain faithful to what You have taught me through Your Word—so I can walk in the freedom that is found there.

Help me to understand that to truly be Your disciple, I must study Your Word so You can reveal the Truth of Your Word to me, through Your Holy Spirit. And I must purpose to be obedient to all Your teachings, as I allow that Truth to guide me in all my affairs.

Don’t allow me to forget that Jesus is that Truth—that He is, for us, the one true example of everything that is right and just—and to follow Him is to follow after Truth.

Help me to steadfastly cling to Him for He is the One who sets me free—free from my slavery to sin, free from my inclination to deceive myself, free from the lies of the enemy and free to choose eternal life with You.

May I always understand that the freedom You give is freedom to walk out my life in obedience to You—that as I am obedient to You, You make it possible for me to enjoy the full benefits that come from being everything You intended for me to be here on earth and to experience the total freedom of life everlasting with You in the hereafter.

Help me always to remain faithful to what You have taught me through Your Word—so I can walk in the freedom that is found there.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Sent Out To Make Disciples

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

—Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for showing me that is by the authority of Jesus Christ—and not my own authority—that I am sent out to make disciples.

Help me to answer this call by following the example of Your Son, Jesus. 

Help me pour myself into the lives of believers around me to help them grow in their knowledge, wisdom and faith in You—so they, too, can pour their lives into the lives of others and continue the work.

Help me to teach them to obey Your commandments—so they can walk in the blessings that come from obedience and so the Good News of Jesus will be spread throughout the world, and by that, our world can be changed.

Thank You that as I commit myself to this call, You have promised to be with me always.

Thank You for showing me that is by the authority of Jesus Christ—and not my own authority—that I am sent out to make disciples.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.