Yesterday, I asked the question, “What could be better than winning the lottery?” Shout out to Lisa Burgess who responded with the answer, “For one of my loved family members to come home.”
She might have meant an earthly homecoming; but immediately my mind went to a heavenly homecoming. When you think about it, a homecoming in heaven with all your loved ones would be better than any lottery winning you can imagine. Monetary blessings, no matter how great, maybe would only last you the rest of your life on earth. Having loved ones with you throughout eternity would be a far greater treasure that could never be taken away from you.
Pray like Jesus did
My own answer to the question, “What could be better than winning the lottery,” is having Jesus pray for me. Because you know, anything He asks for, He is sure to receive.
I’ve been researching recorded prayers in scripture (which would yield enough material for another series, I’m sure). So far, I’ve examined the Lord’s prayer in the last couple of posts; now, I want to turn our attention to Jesus’ last prayer before the crucifixion found in John 17. This chapter is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus in scripture.
9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory.11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.
John 17:9-12 New Living Translation
The Power of the Name
Jesus is praying for His disciples; but in a sense He is also praying for all those who will become His disciples. And what does He pray? He wants us kept, protected, by the power of the name of God.
God’s name represents His character and authority. Keeping believers protected is so important that Jesus invokes the name of God!
We often talk of Jesus’ saving keeping power in the church. The idea is not only the salvation of our souls; but the power to keep us on the path of righteousness, because on our own? We will fall.
This puts me in mind of a wonderful passage of scripture which should encourage any prayer warrior:
37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Romans 8:37-39 New Living Translation
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Victory is Ours!
The Apostle Paul can’t think of a thing that would separate us from God’s love. Think about that for a while.
Nothing!
If you knew … beyond a shadow of a doubt, you would be covered in God’s love for all eternity … wouldn’t that be greater than a lottery?
This is the 19th day of my Transformation: Becoming an Effective Prayer Warrior series. The goal is to write 28 posts discussing spiritual armor, the prayer of agreement and other prayer strategies.
I don’t pretend to know all the answers. I’m going to be thinking with my fingers, so to speak, as I process what is in my heart about these topics after reading the word and praying for discernment.
You can go here to see each post I will be making on this topic.
Today’s question for your consideration: Are there any changes in the way you see yourself?
PREVIOUS POST – Transformation: Forgiving Even Tiny Offenses
Sharing at Anita Ojeda’s 2023 Write 28 Days Challenge