Devotion #60

     This morning, I am filled with such gratitude for all that the Lord has taught me for the past two months, in this God Gain Lifestyle (rather than weight-loss journey). I am truly humbled and in awe that God cares for me in this very personal way.
     In my prayer of thanksgiving, I told the Lord that I am so grateful...words are inadequate to express it. I told Him that I, today, more than any other day in this two-month journey, was curious as to what He would teach me. What would be the “final” word (although I know He will continue to teach me).
     I got quiet before Him and “heard” these words, “I am praying for you.” I felt (and still feel) such love and care from Him. It made me cry, and I’m crying as I type this, remembering.
     I asked the Lord if He would tell me what He’s praying for me, exactly. I know that’s bold, but I know also that He likes for us to come to Him boldly. John 17 came to mind. I felt impressed to read it from The Message.
     The following is most of John 17, verses 6-26. I personalized it, as it is Jesus’ prayer for me. For anyone reading this, it’s His prayer for you, too.
    
     "Father, I spelled out Your character in detail to [this daughter] You gave Me. [She was] Yours in the first place; then You gave [her] to Me, and [she has] now done what You said. [She]
know[s] now, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that everything You gave Me is firsthand from You, for the message You gave Me, I gave [her]; and [she] took it, and [was] convinced that I came from You. [She] believed that You sent Me. I pray for [her]... My life is on display in [her]... [She'll] continue in the world... Holy Father, guard [her] as [she] pursue[s] this life that You conferred as a gift through Me, so [she] can be [of] one heart and mind as We are one heart and mind... I'm saying these things in the world's hearing so My [daughter] can experience My joy completed in [her]. I gave [her] Your Word... I'm not asking that You take [her] out of the world but that You guard [her] from the Evil One... Make [her] holy--consecrated--with the truth; Your word is consecrating truth. In the same way that You gave Me a mission in the world, I give [her] a mission in the world... I'm praying not only for [her] but also for those who will believe in Me because of [her] and [her] witness about Me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind--just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, so they might be one heart and mind in Us... I have made Your very being known to [her]--Who You are and what You do--and continue to make it known, so that Your love for Me might be in [her] exactly as I am in [her]."