In John 16 Jesus is engrossed in a conversation with His disciples. This is the chapter where Jesus is explaining that He will be going away, but He will come back (referring to His death and Resurrection). The disciples aren't quite understanding so there are a lot of questions. Everyone is involved in the conversation. Then John 17:1 begins with like this...
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You." John 17:1
Do you see what Jesus did here? In the course of His conversation, He looked up and spoke to the Father. He didn't gather everyone together to pray. He didn't bow or kneel in formal ceremony. He didn't walk away from the others to quietly pray. As we read John 17, we see that the words Jesus spoke (His prayer) to the Father, were an extension of the conversation. He recognized that God the Father is always with us and He simply included God in the conversation. It was the same as if your friends in the above example would have turned to you and brought you into the conversation.
I am not saying that we should be walking around everywhere we go, engaged in an audible conversation with God. Jesus was with close friends who were believers in this situation. But how often do we forget that God is right there with us waiting to be included in the conversation? The closer our relationship with Jesus is, the more aware we are of His continual presence and the more we naturally begin to include Him in our conversations, whether silently or audibly.
We can model the closeness of our relationship with our Father to our children by looking up sometimes in the course of our conversations with them, to include God. In the midst of our conversation, and our day-to-day, there are many opportunities to look up and say "Thank you Lord.", "What should we do Lord?", "Would you help us with this Lord?", and one of my personal favorites, "Lord, would you please show me where I put my glasses again?". Your children, your grand-children, and others will see that your relationship with Jesus is real and personal, and they just might pick up on making it more personal in their own lives too.
Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
"For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20
"...And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
17 comments:
What a wonderful way to live!
I will remember what you have taught today, and include the Lord!
Love,
Julie
Great view on this passage! Wow! I also laughed when I realized how we also stand around so often asking each other questions that only God can answer!! If we would only go to the THRONE FIRST - instead of the phone. Thanks for sharing your heart!
Hugs, Stephanie
JESUS ONLY in 2010
Praise the LORD Edie! Thank you for sharing this. Love you and your heart for our LORD.
I think of Proverbs 3:5-6, in ALL your ways acknowledge him. Love this post.
Very thick fog this morning as my child and I headed out to have him be dropped off at his school. That time, we left, usually is hectic and cars zoom really fast. Visibility was limited. But I knew it wasn't for Him. I found myself speaking, "Lord, help us. We can't see but You can. Keep us safe. Thank You." I heard my child echoed, "Protect us Lord."
Got to the corner where it was busy...Dangerous especially if cars were not using their headlights. I waited...cautiously....5 seconds...no cars...still...no cars...
"Where are the cars?" I asked my son. No speeders! Thank You Lord!
I'm glad we have a Father Who is so interested even in the littlest details of our lives. It's sad if we forget to include Him in things that we do.
Thanks for this awesome reminder today. I'm sure you found your glasses. Every time :) Love and blessings to you sister.
This is what I meant when we were talking, you write so beautifully and so down to earth. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who loses things and I always pray, God you know where it is? will you show me? and in no time I will find what I misplaced (a better word than lose). Nothing is lost just can't remember where I put it.
My youngest daughter had misplaced her wedding rings and I told her to ask God to show her where they were. Later she told me she prayed that prayer and found them.
Isn't God so good, He not only cares about the major things in our lives but also about the little things.
beautiful and true!
p.s. i love the 'glasses' one :)
This post is making me think of a dumb post I did this morning on LOST- the t.v. show. All I can think of is looking heavenward and saying, "so what do you think, God?" I just know he would reply, "not much".
I'm more and more persuaded to talk and act and write only that in which my heavenly father would be interested. Does that make sense?
Anyway, thanks for this refocusing tool.
Heidi
Excellent post. I tend to pray short prayers often during the day but have never spoken out loud to the Lord in the presence of others. I would probably be anxious to do that with most of the people I work with or know because many are not Christians. I certainly agree though that He is always there for us.
Edie,
The best part of doing this is when God answers and they are there to witness these answers to prayer. Truly life changing moments.
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
Very insightful, noticing to whom Jesus directed his comments. Another powerful occurrence of this is Luke 7. Good post.
I really enjoyed this post Edie! It's an especially great way to illustrate to kids that God is in fact always with us, rather than just telling them. Showing them. And strengthening your own faith at the same time.
Great post!
Being able to "Pray without ceasing" is the lifestyle of one who recognizes his/her absolute dependence on God. I love that I can stop and draw upon my Lord's abilities when I feel stuck in "Inability!!"
Great illustration!
I'm so glad that the Lord is always by our side wherever we go. He is that friend that does sticker closer than a brother, as the scripture says. I am so thankful for Him.
No matter the circumstance all we ever have to do is follow the example of the Son and simply look up to the Father. Thanks for the unique spin on the scripture.
God bless and ya'll have a fantastic day!!!
Your post helps us to raise our awareness that God is always a part of our conversations too. The verse you chose was a great choice of illustration. Thanks. This was great.
Denise Hughes :)
This is something i have started doing lately. It was meant to be more of a reminder to my kids to talk to God but it has ended up helping me too.
As usual...Great Post!
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