23 I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me. – John 17:23
I love reading through the Bible. Each day I want to know more. There’s so much info. The way he spoke harshly to his brothers but after all of that they found the money back in the bags. I love the prayer the Lord did in John 17.
I love how Pharaoh described Joseph as “discerning and wise.” I pray to have the discernment and wisdom of the Lord.
I love how the theme of authority is present in both OT and NT readings today.
Jesus prayer is so honest and raw and real. His prayer reminds me of verses in Jude about God keeping us. He tells us He keeps us so the evil one can’t have us. I pray we abide in Him so He abides in us and we remain safely in His hands.
I pray to have kindness like Joseph, and love like Jesus. I’m so glad Jesus prayed for me even though I didn’t exist yet. I’m so happy and thankful to believe in a loving God. ❤️
When Jesus says that we are not of this world. I think I need to repeat that to myself daily to remind me. So much was made clearer for me last year & really, has provided me with strength for this year.
I think that it is beautiful that Jesus prayed for us even though we weren’t even made yet he prayed that we would become perfectly one in him and feel that love and peace that God has
20“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
My Savior praying for me ❤️
3‘This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
~I have eternal life-I know the only true God and Jesus Christ, what a truth!
5‘Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
~Jesus gave up His glory to provide a way for me to have eternity life; thank you, Lord
6“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world;…
11‘…Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.
12‘While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me;
26and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
~Your Name = Who You are
I am kept in who You are; Jesus showed us who you are-love
13‘But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.
~Joy made full, yes, please!
If anyone is walking through a season of waiting-Joseph waited two whole years in prison before Pharaoh called on him to interpret his dream. Sometimes, our waiting in our life is nothing more than a sentence in God’s story. Take heart, the waiting will not last forever
I feel like it has to be longer than 2 years because he was found favorable by so many people at different stages of being held captive. You don’t gain favor by other humans on Day 1, right? I like how Josephat was found favorable after time at each stage. As in he was following what God told him through it all!
“It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer” (41:16). Joseph has matured quite a bit. As a young man he bragged to his family about his dreams that they would all bow down and serve him. Here he answers humbly and respectfully. He gives all the credit for his knowledge to God and answers Pharaoh honestly regarding the interpretation of the dreams.
I had a reflection I wanted to share…in John, Jesus makes the parallel of God sending him into the world to spread the truth, just as he is now sending us to do. That got me thinking that the biggest thing I struggle with as a Christ follower in this world is “what if they don’t believe me?” What proof do I have that the Bible is the word of the one true God? Well, what proof did Jesus have that his words were from the one true God? We, like him, need to ask people to step out in faith and believe what cannot be proven. I’m praying God helps me to seek his probes above all others. Thanks for reading ❤️
Isn’t it incredible how people who have gone through so much tribulation, like Joseph, at the hands of others are the ones who remain most faithful to God? They trust fully in his plan, and he uses their lives to serve great good in the world.
I think about Joseph- over a decade in prison (in a Pitt!) and then confronted with those who put him there in the first place. Can you imagine his temptation for revenge? And yet, he sends them away with grain AND their money. I wonder what was going through his mind- his through process and how God intervienes there… I know I constantly have to pray that God would direct my thoughts and actions, especially when emotions take over!
Jesus prayer and compassion are so evident in this passage. As he faces suffering on the cross, his prayers are consumed with his love for us and praying for the lords protection over us as he leaves this world. His prayers are not out of fear of what’s to come, as would be my prayer probabaly! But instead, pleading to the Father on our behalf. ❤️❤️❤️
I love this reading plan and have used it since July 1st. One of the major reasons is due to this reflection portion to help me think more about what I’ve read. However, there are major glitches I wanted to warn you about. First of all, randomly your percentage of what’s been read will drop dramatically for no apparent reason. It has done this to me at least 4 times. Today, it is not showing I read Sept-Dec. Other times I went back and re marked the days that disappeared- each one day by day, but it I will not be doing that any more. I know what I’ve read, so I’ll ignore the incorrect percentages.
Also, If anyone responds to your posts, can anyone tell? I haven’t been able to.
Frequently, when I wanted to respond to a post, it will show a post I first wrote and it looks look like I’m responding to my own unrelated post. I can’t find a way to edit either.
Basically, heads up there is some craziness with this, but I still love this reflection part enough to stick with it.
Blessings with reading the Bible! That’s the most important part. Lord, help us to be one with you and one with each other as your word stated today. ♥️ Help is to understand the world will reject us/ our views… because we are not of this world. Thank you for all we have available through your Holy Spirit!
John 17: 9-26 are the most beautiful verses of the Bible that I have read so far… Jesus says, “I am praying for them.” Jesus prayed for his disciples. His small group. He didn’t stop at praying for those he loved most, those who were closest to him. He continues to pray for every single one of us that would follow that original small group. He was facing unavoidable death, but He prayed for every single one of us.
The fact that it took two years for the cupbearer to remember Joseph and tell Pharaoh about him but have been hard on Joseph. I wonder how many days he spent thinking that any moment he’d be released, completely unaware of the fact that the cupbearer immediately forgot him. At the same time, it seems like the timing wouldn’t have been ideal earlier either. If the cupbearer remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about him right when he had been released, I can’t help but wonder if Pharaoh would have just passed it off as a cool trick but still left him in prison. It wasn’t until Pharaoh himself needed Joseph’s help to interpret his dreams that everything was set into motion. This whole scenario made me thinking about the fact that although waiting can be hard, God truly does have a time for everything.
GLORY to our Father let my thoughts, actions, words from mouth, and path that I walk today and if I have a tomorrow bring you GLORY. Jesus encourage me, strengthen me, power me up to change impossible into I am possible. Love, Peace and Joy to my family and church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Isn’t it interesting-Jesus prayed two things for us: to remain in him (through knowledge of truth, he even for us in this as we devote to study of his word) and for unity between us, the church. And isn’t it interesting those are the two things we see Satan attacking most through history. YET just as Jesus promised his disciples in Matthew 16:18 his church and kingdom continues to grow and even exploded within the darkness, “on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
I re-read Jesus’s prayer and put my name in the appropriate spots and MAN! was it powerful. I will definitely come back to this prayer. He prayed over the words I say to others about Him. It’s wonderful to hear that a friend is praying for you but here, Jesus prayed for you and me.
Love Jesus’ prayer for us! That we may be in the world, but mot of the world. Also, love the parallel of how how God sent Jesus into the world to become the truth, and now we are sent by Jesus into the world to share the truth!
Such a beautiful reminder that while we may be in this world, we are not OF this world. We are made in God’s image to live like him and share His truth while we live here but ultimately we are meant to be with Him and His son Jesus in in heaven.we
I have been going through what feels like a rather long waiting period in my life and my father recently pointed out to me the thought that Joseph woke up, forgotten in an Egyptian prison but went to bed the 2nd most powerful man in Egypt! Joseph’s story is a beautiful reminder that God is truly at work in every moment of our lives, even when we feel forgotten, bringing together his perfect plan.
Gen 41:51 “God made me forget all my hardships and all my father’s house.” Even though he called that land his home. Joseph now sees more of God’s Hand in his exile here. Doesn’t even send for his dad. Lives in the present. Faithful. Alive. Forgiving. May I thaw from hardships this wintry journey.
Each day I find that I am not only blessed by God’s word, but each comment left as well. It has expanded my daily devotionals expenentially. I thank you for that Lord! Your gifts are unending for those who seek the truth.
The story about Joseph always touches my heart, even I already read it for so may times. This is a true try story of genuine forgiveness. I alway pray that this sprit of Joseph’s heart be upon us for sure peace will be everywhere..
I don’t understand why Jesus specifies that He is not praying for the world in v.9 — “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.” Shouldn’t we pray for everyone?
Nicolle, I believe we are to pray for everyone but at this point Jesus is praying specifically for believers. How beautiful His desire is that believers stand firm in His truth, unified under His rule, and full of His joy and love in a world that is (temporarily) ruled by the enemy of our souls
Of course we should pray for everyone including the lost of the world but here Jesus is only praying for his followers, believers, the first Christians and the early church! I think Jesus does this to emphasize to Heavenly Father, God the creator, the differences between the disciples and the world also making a point to the father that relates Jesus and his earthly mission and how he was rejected by the world and how now his followers that believed Jesus was the son of God which made them not like the rest of the world and now they are sent on an earthly mission to spread the Gospel to a world that rejected Jesus and will mostly reject his disciples as well! Jesus feels for them and what they will go thru and that He will no longer be with them physically or visibly as they embark on their mission! Jesus was in constant communion and prayer with his father as he completed his task therefore Jesus prays for his followers, himself, and his father to be as one so that they be strengthened and faithful completing the task Jesus sends them out to do! It wouldn’t make since for Jesus to pray for the world to be like minded and as one with Jesus and his father because the world rejected Jesus and didn’t believe he was the son of God which makes it impossible for the world to be as one with Jesus and the Creator!
Wow . . . I was absolutely in tears by the end of John 17. Jesus, even though He knew what was ahead he prayed for US! For ME! He wanted ME to be ok, to be protected. I’ve read the bible and put together Easter plays, I know what is ahead but for whatever reason my emotions just continue to build up as I move a long. My spirit just longs for His presence more and more everyday.
The attributes and actions of the Father are so beautifully proclaimed by Jesus in this passage:
v. 1 – the Father who glorifies
v. 2 – the Father who gives authority
v. 5 – the Father of eternal glory
v. 6 – the Father who gives
v. 11 – the Holy Father
v. 11, 15 – the Father who keeps us
v. 17 – the Father who sanctifies
v. 22-23 – the Father who unifies
v. 25 – the righteous Father
v. 26 – the Father who is knowable
v. 26 – the Father who is love
9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
I feel as if this chapter of John is Jesus crying out to God because of how much he loves us. It’s incredible to almost see his heart as he continually tells God how he won’t stop telling the world about him so that we may know! Truly incredible.
Sisters if I could have you pray for me tomorrow I would greatly appreciate it. It’s a big day for me, career-wise. Thankful for this community!
I feel like this passage in John is severely underestimated. Jesus is so raw with His feelings as He speaks to His Father. It really does go to show the honesty we should have in our prayers as well. Scriptures like these remind me just how much Jesus was and is able to relate to us
The moment when Joseph’s brothers bow their faces to the ground…shows how GOD through the adversity that Joseph had was still faithful and brought the vision to pass..His word does not return void. It’s so amazing how real GOD is…His plans and thoughts so much greater
“Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” Joseph refused to take credit for the gift God had given him
Two things. First, God’s warning of the 7 “fat years” and 7 “lean years” is a mercy to the Egyptians. He didn’t have to tell them what was coming. But He did. Also, it was a mercy to Joseph! He put pharaoh in a situation where he would be forced to look outside himself for help. This brought Joseph to the mind of the cupbearer and got Joseph out of prison!
In Awe of His goodness! My life is not the same as it was 20 days ago when I started this journey! I love the word and I love His truth! You ladies are so full of wisdom and I very much enjoy reading about your hearts after each reading! I’ve come alive in Christ! Praise you Jesus! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Can I say Gen 41:51? God has made me forget all my troubles. But the mention of Joseph’s dad—-that name floods his heart. The ring on his finger. Gold chain on his neck. 2nd-in-Command. Reduced to compassionate tears. He let go of his betrayal. Can I?
Like many of you have said, I think it’s so powerful how Pharaoh knew that Joseph was “filled with the Spirit of God” (41:38). I also love verse 39 in which Pharaoh proclaims that because he is filled with the Spirit, no one is as “intelligent or wise” as Joseph was. When we are filled with the Spirit, God gives us wisdom! Wow!
Lord, I pray for your wisdom, and I pray that I can use your wisdom as a testimony to share your glory, love, and providential care like Joseph did!
I have read the account of Joseph many times but have never noticed (until today) that when Pharaoh asked Joseph to interpreted his dream, Joseph replies that he can not, but God can. What a good reminder that I do not and can not do things by my own strength, but by God working in me! Lord, make me as quick to give you the credit and glory as Joseph was as he stood before Pharaoh.
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
That Jesus was given us to care for while on earth… I put my name in the place of “them” in verse 12. Try it!
Another thought was from a phrase a friend uses often..”your job is to make your employer look good!” Jesus came to glorify God! To make God look good !! Jesus set the example.. As Christians we are to make God, Christianity look good! Well if we do as Jesus did and as the Bible teaches we would be doing just that!!!
Lol. Sometimes I want to … but then I’m afraid if I start getting ahead I’ll set myself up to skip days. I guess I could read and just not mark it off :)
I am right there with you girls. I’m praying that the Lord continues to draw you in and capture your hearts. It’s such a sweet thing to hear women want to read scripture more. I say keep reading. It’s not a checkbox for each day, even though you technically can check it off. There is no specific amount of time you should spend in scripture each day. If you feel led to keep reading, you should. Don’t let a reading plan stop you.
I love this part of the prayer for me to pray for my own two boys. We can’t remove our children from the things of this world but we can pray for their protection from the evil one.
15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
That is so true! I have a son and want to protect him from everything! But the world needs Light. We pray over them that they do not become like the world but overcome the world!
Amen, Carrie! I remember my mom praying “protection” over me as a child and I’m so honored to be able to do the same for my boys. That their hearts & minds would not give way to enemy attacks – that they will become mighty warriors for the Lord.
We live in a world where there is instant gratification everywhere! But that’s not what Christianity has to offer. Sometimes we have to be patient just like Joseph. Sometimes we are never delivered from the things we ask of God. Everything is according to His will and I pray that I never forget that. I pray for obedience and a heart like Joseph’s. Let’s face it…I know myself too well and know that I would more than likely seek revenge on my brothers if I had the opportunity like he did! So thankful for a God who guides us as long as we follow!
And thankful for a god that sent his son to pray for me! On my behalf! That gives me chill bumps just picturing jesus in that prayer time!
I love that after how ever many years, God kept his promise to Joseph. God didn’t forget about him, but allowed the promise to come. Such a great reminder to pray through. God might not answer our prayers until some years pass.
3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Fascinating that Joseph – hated, abandoned, and sold into slavery by his brothers – was the one God had chosen to preserve his family. And after many years that he had compassion on them instead of bitterness! Wow!
Yes! Same as Christ … Joseph was 1 of 12 brothers, Christ had 12 disciples …joseph was sold by his brothers as a slave, Christ was sold for 30 pieces of silver. Joseph’s own brothers did not recognize him when they came to him , just as Christ’s own people did not recognize Him either. Joseph still had compassion on his brothers during the famine despite them rejecting him and leaving him ; Christ had compassion and died for us as though we were completely deserving of salvation …
The readings today correlate beautifully in that we are reminded of His incredible compassion, His unending Mercy and His overflowing grace
May we always be reminded of His crazy Love and also live with such compassion and mercy towards everyone – even those ironically who may not seem “deserving” in our prideful eyes. Pray for me :)
What sticks out to me most….is that everything done (the famine, the abundance etc) it’s all for Gods glory……and he uses people (Joseph and Jesus) to glorify His name as well when he glorifies them…..
It just really hits me that it’s all about God……it’s so easy to get wrapped in ourselves (during good and bad) and my mindset needs to be that I live daily for His glory and to manifest His name…..
Such a “simple” truth that is so often far from my mind… Hard to think past my own thoughts… May the Lord transform my heart to see it all for the glory of God! May I decrease that he may increase!
I love when Jesus makes reference to His unity with God before time even began for instance in John 17:5 He says, “Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” And goes on to talk about the name God had given Him, as well as their oneness and unity. I love thinking about God and Jesus as one and the sovereignty and pure love that poured out as Jesus humbled Himself (since there is no one greater to humble oneself by) to come and enter our world and go on to pray for each of us that we may believe! What love and grace extended to us!
Joseph story is AMAZING!!! After all that He had been through, all the despair, heartache and abandonment, He still trusted God. When Pharaoh asked him if he could reveal the meaning of His dream, Joseph didn’t uplift himself, but rather gave all glory to God, as the only one who could reveal dreams. What faith!! What trust!!
I never GOT this passage like I did today and after lingering over it I love that this was also Jesus prayer for me. He was praying for all who would ever believe in Him. I am protected by the power of His name (v11), guarded so I will never be lost (12) & kept safe from the evil one (v15). I am holy because of Jesus’ sacrifice. This prayer is such a blessing today! God loves us as much as He loves His son Jesus! (v23).
Praise be to God in the highest! We are blessed in receiving His Word and I am ever thankful for Jesus and His sacrifice.
23 I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me. – John 17:23
I love reading through the Bible. Each day I want to know more. There’s so much info. The way he spoke harshly to his brothers but after all of that they found the money back in the bags. I love the prayer the Lord did in John 17.
22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, – John 17:22
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. – John 17:26
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So many details on Joseph’s story I never knew
I love how Pharaoh described Joseph as “discerning and wise.” I pray to have the discernment and wisdom of the Lord.
I love how the theme of authority is present in both OT and NT readings today.
Jesus prayer is so honest and raw and real. His prayer reminds me of verses in Jude about God keeping us. He tells us He keeps us so the evil one can’t have us. I pray we abide in Him so He abides in us and we remain safely in His hands.
I don’t think I ever knew about the money bags being in their travel bags in the story of Joseph. I think that part has always been skipped over.
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Jesus’s prayer… I’m so thankful to be doing this Bible in a year. There is so much I have never read. What a daily blessing.
The passage in John was a great encouragement to me.
That was a good read ♥️
What a beautiful prayer Jesus prayed! ❤️
I pray to have kindness like Joseph, and love like Jesus. I’m so glad Jesus prayed for me even though I didn’t exist yet. I’m so happy and thankful to believe in a loving God. ❤️
When Jesus says that we are not of this world. I think I need to repeat that to myself daily to remind me. So much was made clearer for me last year & really, has provided me with strength for this year.
I think that it is beautiful that Jesus prayed for us even though we weren’t even made yet he prayed that we would become perfectly one in him and feel that love and peace that God has
26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
We are not of this world
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Amazing how God can turn things around for good
glory to God forever and forever!
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So glad that Christ makes intercession for us even before we are in the world!
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Wow ❤️
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one
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Jesus prayed for us ❤️
20“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
My Savior praying for me ❤️
I love that too
3‘This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
~I have eternal life-I know the only true God and Jesus Christ, what a truth!
5‘Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
~Jesus gave up His glory to provide a way for me to have eternity life; thank you, Lord
6“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world;…
11‘…Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.
12‘While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me;
26and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
~Your Name = Who You are
I am kept in who You are; Jesus showed us who you are-love
13‘But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.
~Joy made full, yes, please!
If anyone is walking through a season of waiting-Joseph waited two whole years in prison before Pharaoh called on him to interpret his dream. Sometimes, our waiting in our life is nothing more than a sentence in God’s story. Take heart, the waiting will not last forever
I feel like it has to be longer than 2 years because he was found favorable by so many people at different stages of being held captive. You don’t gain favor by other humans on Day 1, right? I like how Josephat was found favorable after time at each stage. As in he was following what God told him through it all!
It’s so cool that Jesus prayed directly over us (the believers who are yet to come) in John! The love he has for us is so overwhelming.
Joseph is a testament to be careful who step over on your way bc (his brothers) bc you’ll need them on the way down!
Done :)
“It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer” (41:16). Joseph has matured quite a bit. As a young man he bragged to his family about his dreams that they would all bow down and serve him. Here he answers humbly and respectfully. He gives all the credit for his knowledge to God and answers Pharaoh honestly regarding the interpretation of the dreams.
I had a reflection I wanted to share…in John, Jesus makes the parallel of God sending him into the world to spread the truth, just as he is now sending us to do. That got me thinking that the biggest thing I struggle with as a Christ follower in this world is “what if they don’t believe me?” What proof do I have that the Bible is the word of the one true God? Well, what proof did Jesus have that his words were from the one true God? We, like him, need to ask people to step out in faith and believe what cannot be proven. I’m praying God helps me to seek his probes above all others. Thanks for reading ❤️
Praise* lol not “probes”
I’m all caught up!
i love this story ! -ellie
May we also make known to the lost souls of the world the name of Jesus and the glory of the Father.
Isn’t it incredible how people who have gone through so much tribulation, like Joseph, at the hands of others are the ones who remain most faithful to God? They trust fully in his plan, and he uses their lives to serve great good in the world.
Day twenty!! ❤️
i love how Jesus prays for us it’s truly amazing
I love how Joseph fave credit to God.
Same!
Done❤️
I love the story of Joseph. There are so many foreshadowing moments of Christ. Gives me chills!
Commission my soul with a fire uncontrollable
I think about Joseph- over a decade in prison (in a Pitt!) and then confronted with those who put him there in the first place. Can you imagine his temptation for revenge? And yet, he sends them away with grain AND their money. I wonder what was going through his mind- his through process and how God intervienes there… I know I constantly have to pray that God would direct my thoughts and actions, especially when emotions take over!
Thank you for pointing this out Courtney!
Jesus prayer and compassion are so evident in this passage. As he faces suffering on the cross, his prayers are consumed with his love for us and praying for the lords protection over us as he leaves this world. His prayers are not out of fear of what’s to come, as would be my prayer probabaly! But instead, pleading to the Father on our behalf. ❤️❤️❤️
I love this reading plan and have used it since July 1st. One of the major reasons is due to this reflection portion to help me think more about what I’ve read. However, there are major glitches I wanted to warn you about. First of all, randomly your percentage of what’s been read will drop dramatically for no apparent reason. It has done this to me at least 4 times. Today, it is not showing I read Sept-Dec. Other times I went back and re marked the days that disappeared- each one day by day, but it I will not be doing that any more. I know what I’ve read, so I’ll ignore the incorrect percentages.
Also, If anyone responds to your posts, can anyone tell? I haven’t been able to.
Frequently, when I wanted to respond to a post, it will show a post I first wrote and it looks look like I’m responding to my own unrelated post. I can’t find a way to edit either.
Basically, heads up there is some craziness with this, but I still love this reflection part enough to stick with it.
Blessings with reading the Bible! That’s the most important part. Lord, help us to be one with you and one with each other as your word stated today. ♥️ Help is to understand the world will reject us/ our views… because we are not of this world. Thank you for all we have available through your Holy Spirit!
Jn 17:4 “I have glorified you on the earth BY completing ng the work you gave me to do.” — O that I would focus on the work He gave me to. do
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John 17 is beautiful.
John 17: 9-26 are the most beautiful verses of the Bible that I have read so far… Jesus says, “I am praying for them.” Jesus prayed for his disciples. His small group. He didn’t stop at praying for those he loved most, those who were closest to him. He continues to pray for every single one of us that would follow that original small group. He was facing unavoidable death, but He prayed for every single one of us.
The fact that it took two years for the cupbearer to remember Joseph and tell Pharaoh about him but have been hard on Joseph. I wonder how many days he spent thinking that any moment he’d be released, completely unaware of the fact that the cupbearer immediately forgot him. At the same time, it seems like the timing wouldn’t have been ideal earlier either. If the cupbearer remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about him right when he had been released, I can’t help but wonder if Pharaoh would have just passed it off as a cool trick but still left him in prison. It wasn’t until Pharaoh himself needed Joseph’s help to interpret his dreams that everything was set into motion. This whole scenario made me thinking about the fact that although waiting can be hard, God truly does have a time for everything.
Ugh. Yes. Waiting…
Amen!
This is such wonderful insight! Thank you for sharing sharing,Tolu
GLORY to our Father let my thoughts, actions, words from mouth, and path that I walk today and if I have a tomorrow bring you GLORY. Jesus encourage me, strengthen me, power me up to change impossible into I am possible. Love, Peace and Joy to my family and church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
I love that when interpreting Pharoah’s dreams, Joseph gives l credit to God
Mmm- so good!
Amen, glory be to God!
Isn’t it interesting-Jesus prayed two things for us: to remain in him (through knowledge of truth, he even for us in this as we devote to study of his word) and for unity between us, the church. And isn’t it interesting those are the two things we see Satan attacking most through history. YET just as Jesus promised his disciples in Matthew 16:18 his church and kingdom continues to grow and even exploded within the darkness, “on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
Amen!
I re-read Jesus’s prayer and put my name in the appropriate spots and MAN! was it powerful. I will definitely come back to this prayer. He prayed over the words I say to others about Him. It’s wonderful to hear that a friend is praying for you but here, Jesus prayed for you and me.
16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”
To God be the glory!
Love Jesus’ prayer for us! That we may be in the world, but mot of the world. Also, love the parallel of how how God sent Jesus into the world to become the truth, and now we are sent by Jesus into the world to share the truth!
Such a beautiful reminder that while we may be in this world, we are not OF this world. We are made in God’s image to live like him and share His truth while we live here but ultimately we are meant to be with Him and His son Jesus in in heaven.we
The story of God using Joseph despite all of the bad done to him is inspiriring❤️! And man I love reading about Jesus in John!!
Amen me too!❤❤
I have been going through what feels like a rather long waiting period in my life and my father recently pointed out to me the thought that Joseph woke up, forgotten in an Egyptian prison but went to bed the 2nd most powerful man in Egypt! Joseph’s story is a beautiful reminder that God is truly at work in every moment of our lives, even when we feel forgotten, bringing together his perfect plan.
❤ powerful hope in this thought!
Gen 41:51 “God made me forget all my hardships and all my father’s house.” Even though he called that land his home. Joseph now sees more of God’s Hand in his exile here. Doesn’t even send for his dad. Lives in the present. Faithful. Alive. Forgiving. May I thaw from hardships this wintry journey.
Each day I find that I am not only blessed by God’s word, but each comment left as well. It has expanded my daily devotionals expenentially. I thank you for that Lord! Your gifts are unending for those who seek the truth.
I completely agree with you. Even though I’ve read it many many times before I still want to read more!
The story about Joseph always touches my heart, even I already read it for so may times. This is a true try story of genuine forgiveness. I alway pray that this sprit of Joseph’s heart be upon us for sure peace will be everywhere..
I don’t understand why Jesus specifies that He is not praying for the world in v.9 — “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.” Shouldn’t we pray for everyone?
Nicolle, I believe we are to pray for everyone but at this point Jesus is praying specifically for believers. How beautiful His desire is that believers stand firm in His truth, unified under His rule, and full of His joy and love in a world that is (temporarily) ruled by the enemy of our souls
That is how I understood it as well.
Of course we should pray for everyone including the lost of the world but here Jesus is only praying for his followers, believers, the first Christians and the early church! I think Jesus does this to emphasize to Heavenly Father, God the creator, the differences between the disciples and the world also making a point to the father that relates Jesus and his earthly mission and how he was rejected by the world and how now his followers that believed Jesus was the son of God which made them not like the rest of the world and now they are sent on an earthly mission to spread the Gospel to a world that rejected Jesus and will mostly reject his disciples as well! Jesus feels for them and what they will go thru and that He will no longer be with them physically or visibly as they embark on their mission! Jesus was in constant communion and prayer with his father as he completed his task therefore Jesus prays for his followers, himself, and his father to be as one so that they be strengthened and faithful completing the task Jesus sends them out to do! It wouldn’t make since for Jesus to pray for the world to be like minded and as one with Jesus and his father because the world rejected Jesus and didn’t believe he was the son of God which makes it impossible for the world to be as one with Jesus and the Creator!
Wow . . . I was absolutely in tears by the end of John 17. Jesus, even though He knew what was ahead he prayed for US! For ME! He wanted ME to be ok, to be protected. I’ve read the bible and put together Easter plays, I know what is ahead but for whatever reason my emotions just continue to build up as I move a long. My spirit just longs for His presence more and more everyday.
I thought the same thing. How awesome that Jesus would pray for me.
The attributes and actions of the Father are so beautifully proclaimed by Jesus in this passage:
v. 1 – the Father who glorifies
v. 2 – the Father who gives authority
v. 5 – the Father of eternal glory
v. 6 – the Father who gives
v. 11 – the Holy Father
v. 11, 15 – the Father who keeps us
v. 17 – the Father who sanctifies
v. 22-23 – the Father who unifies
v. 25 – the righteous Father
v. 26 – the Father who is knowable
v. 26 – the Father who is love
Beautiful
Is this from the John or genesis section?
9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
I feel as if this chapter of John is Jesus crying out to God because of how much he loves us. It’s incredible to almost see his heart as he continually tells God how he won’t stop telling the world about him so that we may know! Truly incredible.
Sisters if I could have you pray for me tomorrow I would greatly appreciate it. It’s a big day for me, career-wise. Thankful for this community!
Praying for you Ellie. Peace and Grace.
Just read this today, Wed 10:30am CT & prayed for you sister. God bless you & give you His peace.
I feel like this passage in John is severely underestimated. Jesus is so raw with His feelings as He speaks to His Father. It really does go to show the honesty we should have in our prayers as well. Scriptures like these remind me just how much Jesus was and is able to relate to us
The moment when Joseph’s brothers bow their faces to the ground…shows how GOD through the adversity that Joseph had was still faithful and brought the vision to pass..His word does not return void. It’s so amazing how real GOD is…His plans and thoughts so much greater
Really touched my heart to read Jesus’ prayer. Oh how He loves us❤️
Amen!
“Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” Joseph refused to take credit for the gift God had given him
Two things. First, God’s warning of the 7 “fat years” and 7 “lean years” is a mercy to the Egyptians. He didn’t have to tell them what was coming. But He did. Also, it was a mercy to Joseph! He put pharaoh in a situation where he would be forced to look outside himself for help. This brought Joseph to the mind of the cupbearer and got Joseph out of prison!
In Awe of His goodness! My life is not the same as it was 20 days ago when I started this journey! I love the word and I love His truth! You ladies are so full of wisdom and I very much enjoy reading about your hearts after each reading! I’ve come alive in Christ! Praise you Jesus! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Oh! And how beautiful so many of you left a word about John 17. Jesus prayed for me that I will let go of what controls me.
Can I say Gen 41:51? God has made me forget all my troubles. But the mention of Joseph’s dad—-that name floods his heart. The ring on his finger. Gold chain on his neck. 2nd-in-Command. Reduced to compassionate tears. He let go of his betrayal. Can I?
Like many of you have said, I think it’s so powerful how Pharaoh knew that Joseph was “filled with the Spirit of God” (41:38). I also love verse 39 in which Pharaoh proclaims that because he is filled with the Spirit, no one is as “intelligent or wise” as Joseph was. When we are filled with the Spirit, God gives us wisdom! Wow!
Lord, I pray for your wisdom, and I pray that I can use your wisdom as a testimony to share your glory, love, and providential care like Joseph did!
I have read the account of Joseph many times but have never noticed (until today) that when Pharaoh asked Joseph to interpreted his dream, Joseph replies that he can not, but God can. What a good reminder that I do not and can not do things by my own strength, but by God working in me! Lord, make me as quick to give you the credit and glory as Joseph was as he stood before Pharaoh.
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
That Jesus was given us to care for while on earth… I put my name in the place of “them” in verse 12. Try it!
Another thought was from a phrase a friend uses often..”your job is to make your employer look good!” Jesus came to glorify God! To make God look good !! Jesus set the example.. As Christians we are to make God, Christianity look good! Well if we do as Jesus did and as the Bible teaches we would be doing just that!!!
Yes!
Anyone else really want to continue reading tomorrow’s chapters?? I’m in the edge of my seat reading about Joseph and his brothers. Good stuff!
Same here!!!
I did read one day ahead! It can’t hurt, in case we miss a day, right?
Hahaha! Right there with you. I “grrrr” to myself at the end of it and wanted to keep reading more!
Lol. Sometimes I want to … but then I’m afraid if I start getting ahead I’ll set myself up to skip days. I guess I could read and just not mark it off :)
I am right there with you girls. I’m praying that the Lord continues to draw you in and capture your hearts. It’s such a sweet thing to hear women want to read scripture more. I say keep reading. It’s not a checkbox for each day, even though you technically can check it off. There is no specific amount of time you should spend in scripture each day. If you feel led to keep reading, you should. Don’t let a reading plan stop you.
Agreed!
Yes! I read ahead :)
I love this part of the prayer for me to pray for my own two boys. We can’t remove our children from the things of this world but we can pray for their protection from the evil one.
15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
That is so true! I have a son and want to protect him from everything! But the world needs Light. We pray over them that they do not become like the world but overcome the world!
Carrie: what a beautiful thing to do as a mother!
Amen, Carrie! I remember my mom praying “protection” over me as a child and I’m so honored to be able to do the same for my boys. That their hearts & minds would not give way to enemy attacks – that they will become mighty warriors for the Lord.
We live in a world where there is instant gratification everywhere! But that’s not what Christianity has to offer. Sometimes we have to be patient just like Joseph. Sometimes we are never delivered from the things we ask of God. Everything is according to His will and I pray that I never forget that. I pray for obedience and a heart like Joseph’s. Let’s face it…I know myself too well and know that I would more than likely seek revenge on my brothers if I had the opportunity like he did! So thankful for a God who guides us as long as we follow!
And thankful for a god that sent his son to pray for me! On my behalf! That gives me chill bumps just picturing jesus in that prayer time!
I love that after how ever many years, God kept his promise to Joseph. God didn’t forget about him, but allowed the promise to come. Such a great reminder to pray through. God might not answer our prayers until some years pass.
Hi Allie! What promise did God make to Joseph? Do you mean fulfilling Joseph’s dream as a boy?
That prayer was deep
3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Fascinating that Joseph – hated, abandoned, and sold into slavery by his brothers – was the one God had chosen to preserve his family. And after many years that he had compassion on them instead of bitterness! Wow!
I would be scared to know how I would treat my brothers if I were Joseph! He was such a man of God. Such an inspiration!
Yes! Same as Christ … Joseph was 1 of 12 brothers, Christ had 12 disciples …joseph was sold by his brothers as a slave, Christ was sold for 30 pieces of silver. Joseph’s own brothers did not recognize him when they came to him , just as Christ’s own people did not recognize Him either. Joseph still had compassion on his brothers during the famine despite them rejecting him and leaving him ; Christ had compassion and died for us as though we were completely deserving of salvation …
The readings today correlate beautifully in that we are reminded of His incredible compassion, His unending Mercy and His overflowing grace
May we always be reminded of His crazy Love and also live with such compassion and mercy towards everyone – even those ironically who may not seem “deserving” in our prideful eyes. Pray for me :)
Wow! I really appreciate this comparison. It’s so neat how these readings correlate with each other.
Beautifully noted..thank you for sharing!
Wonderful incite. Thank you. ⭐️
Thank you Monica for making this connection!!
Never thought of this before! Such a beautiful parallel
Well said!
And his forgiveness! He gives them their food and silver. He was quick to forgive. I can’t say I would’ve done so in his situation.
I think the trinity is so beautiful!
What sticks out to me most….is that everything done (the famine, the abundance etc) it’s all for Gods glory……and he uses people (Joseph and Jesus) to glorify His name as well when he glorifies them…..
It just really hits me that it’s all about God……it’s so easy to get wrapped in ourselves (during good and bad) and my mindset needs to be that I live daily for His glory and to manifest His name…..
Such a “simple” truth that is so often far from my mind… Hard to think past my own thoughts… May the Lord transform my heart to see it all for the glory of God! May I decrease that he may increase!
I love when Jesus makes reference to His unity with God before time even began for instance in John 17:5 He says, “Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” And goes on to talk about the name God had given Him, as well as their oneness and unity. I love thinking about God and Jesus as one and the sovereignty and pure love that poured out as Jesus humbled Himself (since there is no one greater to humble oneself by) to come and enter our world and go on to pray for each of us that we may believe! What love and grace extended to us!
Praise God Praise God!
Joseph story is AMAZING!!! After all that He had been through, all the despair, heartache and abandonment, He still trusted God. When Pharaoh asked him if he could reveal the meaning of His dream, Joseph didn’t uplift himself, but rather gave all glory to God, as the only one who could reveal dreams. What faith!! What trust!!
Agreed!
Pretty incredible. Such humility & trust in God after so much heartache.
I never GOT this passage like I did today and after lingering over it I love that this was also Jesus prayer for me. He was praying for all who would ever believe in Him. I am protected by the power of His name (v11), guarded so I will never be lost (12) & kept safe from the evil one (v15). I am holy because of Jesus’ sacrifice. This prayer is such a blessing today! God loves us as much as He loves His son Jesus! (v23).
AMEN!! It’s amazing to fully see God’s love for us through the prayers of Jesus.
Yes! So awesome!
❤️ yes!
What sweet truths to soak in!
Jesus prayed for us…for ME!! (John 17:20) That blows my mind gives me such an increased feeling of closeness with Him!
Yes!
Amen!
That touched me too!!!
Yes! I loved this!
Yeah I’ve never read this passage before! Wow Jesus pleads for us! I need to read this when I need more encouragement… Which is often haha