John 17:15

"'I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.'"

 

If you're a parent, you can adapt Jesus' prayer for his disciples to your own prayers for your children. You may feel a desire to take them out of the world, but Jesus here teaches that the truer-to-reality request is that God himself would keep them safe from the evil one. Notice how this actually leads to more peace: Rather than leaning on your own attempts to keep the world from your children, you entrust them to God's care. You ask and trust God to take care of them. Your role is to pray, not to shelter

John 14:31

"'I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let's be going.'"

In this chapter, Jesus repeats often that his goal is to please the Father, to show his love for his Father. The love and obedience Jesus displayed toward his Father is a model for the love and obedience we are to show Jesus. Do you have this kind of complete devotion to Jesus, this great desire to obey, even if it leads to terrible suffering, as it did for Jesus? Do you share his complete trust that if you do suffer, it will be both necessary and worthwhile because of what God will do through it?

Proverbs 3:7–8

"Don't be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones."

 

We can easily fall into relying on our own wisdom. These verses remind us to always make sure that, first and foremost, we are trusting in God and acknowledging our need of him. Then, we should examine our hearts for any sin we may be blind to and turn away from it. The body's health is connected to the soul's state. To renew your health, check your spirit!