"The High Priestly Prayer"

  ""For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life - to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to the earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

 "I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.

 "My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. 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. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold."" (John 17:2-12 NLT) 

 "Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God." (Isaiah 50:10 NLT) 

 How can we pretend to know what we are doing, if we don't pray for God's guidance in everything we do? If Jesus, who was God's Son, prayed for the Father's guidance and protection, how much more should we make it a priority to seek God's guidance and protection, every day and all day, throughout our life? 

 Those questions are meant for me, because I am guilty of doing things first, and then asking God to help me fix or correct all the mistakes I have made. Somehow, I need to stop making things seem as though they are my responsibility and start giving everything to God! Maybe I have that condition because I have convinced myself, "If man can do it, God will not," or so I have been told. 

 Here is something to think about, as Pastor Rick mentioned Sunday: 'Stop thinking about yourself, but think about God!' Somehow that make more sense, if you look at it from God's point of view! He knows the way that we should go, He provides for the way that we get there, and He establishes the time that we are here! 

 Even Jesus acknowledges God the Father as the One that owns it all! What is it that we think is ours? If it all belongs to God, then shouldn't it be our first priority to ask God before we do anything with it...

"The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever." (PSALM 23 NLT)