READ John 15
Jesus teaches that a personal relationship with Him, and others, is central to His design.

INSIGHT
There are times when our prayers are answered and we seem “in tune” with God. At other times, our prayers seem not to be answered, and we seem far from God. Jesus gives us two directives to keep in mind as we ponder our prayer. First, we are to abide in Him. This abiding, among other things, includes fostering a conscious awareness of His presence at all times and bringing all thoughts, attitudes, and actions in line with what we understand of His teachings. Second, “and My words abide in you” must involve studying, memorizing, and meditating upon the Word so that we pray intelligently, knowing God’s will ahead of time on some things. As we grow in these two areas, more and more of our prayers will be answered.

PRAYER
The Lord is pleased when we offer Him our praise:
My mouth is full of praise
and honor to you all day long.
But I will hope continually
and will praise you more and more.  
My mouth will tell about your righteousness
and your salvation all day long,
Though I cannot sum them up.  
I come because of the mighty acts of the Lord God;
I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone
(Psalm 71:8, 14-16).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
There is certainly no one righteous on the earth
who does good and never sins
(Ecclesiastes 7:20).

For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said:
“You will be delivered by returning and resting;
your strength will lie in quiet confidence.
But you are not willing.” (Isaiah 30:15).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• Greater faithfulness in evangelism
• National and world affairs
• Your activities for the day
• Whatever else is on your heart

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
God will bring this about in his own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal power. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:15-16).