For the last ten days, I’ve shared my declarations and prayers corresponding to John 14:22-31 on Instagram and Facebook daily. This summary is meant to be read as a response to these verses. I hope you have joined me on this adventure, and I pray this exercise has helped you build on the reality of abiding in Jesus. (If you haven’t been following along, you can click here to start from the beginning.)
Begin
Read John 14:22-31, and then use the following words as a framework to build your response to Jesus’ words.
Verse 22
I have to acknowledge this reality; not everyone will see You. This gives me courage and peace in holding onto what I believe. Just because others don’t understand doesn’t make it any less real. Jesus, please keep showing Yourself to me.
Verse 23
Jesus, I love You, and I know the Father loves me. Therefore, I hide Your Words in my heart. I keep them because they are my Guide in this mixed-up world. I have experienced enough to believe that You and the Father abide in me.
Verse 24
I understand that regardless of what people call themselves, if they are not keeping Your Words, they don’t love You—a compass for Truth, Your Truth that comes only from the Father.
Verse 25
Being present with You, Jesus, has changed everything for me. As I sit with You, I learn the sound of Your voice; keep speaking to me.
Verse 26
The Holy Spirit, the Comforter, teaches me. Everything I know and believe has come from Him alone. Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, You are my only Teacher. And I claim Your promise that as I abide in You, You will bring to my mind the Words You have spoken, as I need them to glorify You.
Verse 27
Jesus, Your Peace has become my anchor. The things of this world don’t come close, so today, I chose to rest fully in Your Presence and Your embrace—this place where my heart is still and free.
Verse 28
Jesus, I love You, so even when I don’t understand the circumstances, I will rejoice because I believe You have ascended to Your Father in Heaven, and You are coming back for me. I trust that there is more than what I can see.
Verse 29
Jesus, I believe that Your Words are Truth, and I have Peace resting in You, no matter what the future holds.
Verse 30
Jesus, only through You abiding in me can I withstand the prince of this world—the prince of everything evil and dark. Because I am filled with You, he has nothing in me.
Verse 31
Jesus, I lay everything down at Your feet again today so that the world may know that I love the Father. And, as Your Spirit has taught me, even so I do. I am ready; use me.
Making it Real
What do these final words of John 14 prompt you to declare or pray back to Jesus? Are you beginning to internalize and apply them to what is pressing on you today? As you have been soaking up these words, I pray they are starting to feel like a love letter from Jesus to you. He spoke these words so long ago so they could change your life here and now. That’s the whole point of spending time in the Word and sitting quietly with Jesus—to create a space where He becomes real.
As you discover Him and His words sink into your soul, you will find moments are no longer mundane. Every breath, every second, and every challenge becomes a chance to lean in and let Jesus hold You, to let His Holy Spirit speak to you, a chance to see the Father. From this place, you will begin to see another Kingdom. A Kingdom that will never be shaken. As you become grounded in this reality, the Peace of Jesus will be yours.
Just the Beginning
Determine to make internalizing God’s Word a daily habit; this month in John 14 is just the beginning! Use this as a framework, but make it your own. God has laid John 14 on my heart to reveal Himself to me. I pray that what I have shared has given you a glimpse of what it means to abide and a desire to learn more for yourself. Consider: What does God want to use to reveal Himself to you today?