Pastor Stephen Dedman

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 ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
How can you seek to glorify God even in the difficult moments of your life?

Context
After teaching His disciples and preparing them for His departure, Jesus lifts His eyes to heaven and begins to pray. The “hour” He refers to is the moment of His suffering and death that will soon unfold. What is remarkable is that Jesus does not pray to escape the cross. Instead, He prays that God would be glorified through it.

Application
Jesus reminds us that even difficult moments can serve a greater purpose. God is able to use hardship to bring glory to His name and accomplish His will. When life becomes challenging, we can trust that God is still at work.

Truth For The Day
God can bring glory through even the hardest circumstances.

Pray
Lord, help me trust Your purpose in every season of life. Teach me to seek Your glory above my own comfort. May Your name be glorified above all. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬

Question
How does your life reflect the unity and love that Jesus prayed believers would have?

Context
John 17 records what is often called the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus. It takes place just before His arrest and crucifixion. Knowing the suffering of the cross was only hours away, Jesus lifted His eyes to heaven and prayed.

In this holy prayer, Jesus prays for Himself, for His disciples, and for all future believers. That means Jesus was praying not only for His disciples in that moment but for every believer who would come after them, including us today. His prayer focused on unity among believers and a deep relationship with God so that the world would see the reality of His mission. Even as He approached the cross, Jesus’ heart was fixed on the spiritual well-being of those who would follow Him.

Application
It is powerful to realize that before the cross, Jesus prayed for future believers. His prayer reminds us that our faith is part of a much bigger story that God has been unfolding for generations. Jesus desired unity among His followers so that the world could see the reality of God’s love. When believers walk in humility, love, and unity, they reflect the heart of Christ and become a testimony to others of the transforming power of the gospel.

Truth For The Day
Jesus prayed for you long before you ever prayed to Him.

Pray
Lord, thank You for praying for me and for all who would believe in You. Help me to live in unity with other believers and to reflect Your love in my daily life. May my actions point others to You and strengthen the testimony of the gospel in this world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
When you recognize sin in your life, do you try to cover it up or bring it honestly before God?

Context
Psalm 51 is one of the most well-known prayers of repentance in Scripture. David penned this prayer after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11–12). David had committed adultery and then arranged the death of her husband, Uriah. When his sin was exposed, David did not make excuses or shift blame. Instead, he turned to God in sincere repentance.

In this prayer, David appeals to God’s lovingkindness and mercy, not his own goodness. He understood that forgiveness is not earned through personal merit but given through God’s gracious character. David’s cry for God to “blot out” his transgressions reveals his deep desire for complete cleansing and restoration.

Application
We all face moments when we must recognize our own failure and sin. Psalm 51 reminds us that the right response is not hiding from God but running toward Him. Like David, we must come humbly, acknowledging our sin and trusting in God’s mercy. The good news is that God’s grace is greater than our failures. When we confess openly, God is ready to forgive, restore, and renew our hearts.

Truth For The Day
God’s mercy is greater than our deepest failure.

Pray
Lord, I come before You asking for mercy. According to Your lovingkindness, forgive my sins and cleanse my heart. Help me to walk in humility and live in the freedom that comes from Your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.