Life is such an interesting journey...

Last night at prayer meeting we looked at John 17, Christ's prayer to the Father as He looked ahead to the cross. Facing that death, He prayed, "O, righteous Father... the world does not know You, but I know you..." and He prayed for the church - His disciples and all that would eventually come to Him throughout time; all those named before time in the Book of the Lamb. Jesus knew His Father and so could gladly accept whatever He gave Him. In that knowing was complete trust because He knew the Father's complete love and complete righteousness.

I pray that we would seek to know our Father like that; in knowing, we would only trust more; in trusting, we would gladly accept whatever He has for us.

What Jesus prayed for His church - for us - was that we be sanctified by the truth of God's Word; that we be made holy and unto His likeness - by His Word. I pray that roots in my heart and yours - studying and learning and keeping and treasuring and relying on for my sustenance the living words of the Bible: it was Christ's prayer for me and for you right before He went to the cross. And that in that sanctification we be unified as a Body - relying together on His words for life and joy and glory...for eternity.

I pray that wherever we are lead on this journey, we fully know Him who leads us and submit to His leadership; I pray we seek Him and cleave to Him and be sanctified by the washing of His word. I pray that we pray for each other as Christ prayed for us - that we remember what is most important even as we face trials and mayhap death... that our hearts sing adoration and thanksgiving; that prayer for the Father's will, for His glory, and for the holiness of the church which glorifies Him be on our lips.

In His Son's name, Amen.