Holy Father, Protect Them

I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth. John 17:9-19

As a mom, I have spent a great deal of time praying for with and over my children. When they were young, I often prayed as they headed off to school, to school events and sleepovers. I often prayed and still pray for them privately, away from their "oh, mom!" eyes and ears. They are so grown up and I am so proud of them all, but still I pray. Jesus is praying like a mother or a father does. He prays for the ones he loves so deeply, and he prays and intercedes for us now. His perfect love covers our imperfect love and prayers, and he prays alongside us as we pray for those we love. God's protection is real for us in hard and evil times, and in the small but impossible challenges we face daily.

Loving Creator, you love us as perfect parent

as one who brought us into this broken world

and who helps us to daily walk with you.

We stumble and fall, often over our own arrogance

we say we do not need your love to support us

but we cry to you in the night like frightened children.

Hear our cries, O Lord, and help us to be strong now

help us to pray for family, friends and enemies alike

for all God's children fiercely need your love now. Amen.