In July I wrote an ePray entitled “Praying Protection”. It seemed to strike a chord with many and is a theme that keeps coming to the surface. The reality is life is full of hardships. Jesus himself said, “In this world you will have trouble BUT take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) The reality is we are in this world, this fallen and broken world, but we are also in Him and He has overcome the world! So how do we better position ourselves in Him so that we don’t just pray for victory, we pray from victory?! 

We pray as Jesus prayed. 

“I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name – the name you gave me – so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me… My prayer is not that you take them out of world but that you protect them from the evil one.” – John 17:11-12

“They are still in the world” 

Why did Jesus deem it necessary to pray protection for his disciples? Because they were still in the world. He didn’t pray that the Father take them out of the world but that He protect them from the evil one (the prince of this world – John 14:30). Part of Jesus’ motivation for praying for protection was an understanding that in this world we will have trouble. The reality is we live in a fallen world, where sin and the effects of sin touch us all. So Jesus prayed for protection. 

“Protect them by the power of your name”

But that wasn’t his only motivation, it wasn’t the only reality that formed His prayers. He also prayed from the reality of having overcome the world. He prayed from the reality of being one with the Father and sharing his name – the true King of this world! “Greater is He who is in you than He who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)  

Are our prayers for protection motivated by fear or by faith? 

“Perfect love drives out all fear… The one who fears has not been made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18) And “Everything that does not come from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23) Fear is the enemy of faith. We must be careful that our primary motivation that forms our prayers is not fear but faith. Faith in Jesus. Faith in the power of His name.  

Let us take some time this week to examine, in His presence, our core motivations for praying for protection. Let us pray not only for victory but from victory!
 
Praying with you, 

Joel Martin

Youth for Christ Canada

National Prayer Coordinator