My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

 

—John 17:15

​

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

​

Jesus, in showing his love and care for his disciples in prayer right before his Passion, is our great example of how we can and must pray for God's spiritual protection over those we love. The Lord Jesus knew what would happen to him, yet chose to pray for them rather than focusing on himself. Praying for them was that important to the Lord! His disciples could not leave the world and still serve the world and reach the lost with God's grace. So, Jesus prayed protection over them and for them. Jesus' example is our command to pray for God to protect his disciples from the evil one (Matthew 6:13).