What Jesus Did! 'Jesus Prayed for You and Me!' — John 17:20-21

Sunday, November 1, 2026

Multiplication of Ministry: Year-End Information

Key dates and details about our year-end ministry transition and financial support.

 See Details
[Jesus continued his prayer:] "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one — as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me."
— John 17:20-21 NLT

Key Thought

Jesus didn't pray just for his immediate disciples, but also for those who would believe on him because of their word. Folks, that includes us! Jesus looked beyond the first generation of believers and saw others who would follow him. His prayer for them, and for us, is that we would be unified so that the world around us will believe that God sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world. So let's get together by coming to Jesus and seeking his life, his love, his will, and his Spirit to help us be what he has called us to be.

Today's Prayer

Holy and almighty God, please break down the walls that separate your people and keep us apart. Forgive us for our arrogance and selfishness, and bring us to unity as we seek to serve the world as your Son did. As we focus more on Jesus, please conform us more to your will. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

12 Related Resources by Heartlight

Jesus Prayed for Our Unity, So Let's Pursue It
Devo: Spiritual Warfare
"I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just....."
John 17:20-21
Devo: Today's Verse
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me...."
That They May Be One
Illustration of John 17:20
Inspirational illustration of John 17:20 --
The Immovable Ladder
Article by Tim Archer
The ladder has been there since the 18th century! A ladder sits outside a window of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The ladder has been in place for over 250 years; there are writings from the 18th century that mention it. No one really knows where it came from. Nobody uses it. The ladder
See All 12 Related Resources about John 17:20-21

Illustration

Illustration of John 17:20-21 NLT — "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Sunday, November 1, 2026

Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'A Clean Mind' (Ep. 5:5)
"Dear Father, Holy God, You have warned me that I can be sure of this: that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is covetous (idolatrous!) has....."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Matthew 24:39
"Universal was the doom, neither rich nor poor escaped: the learned and the illiterate, the admired and the abhorred, the religious and the profane,..."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Fearless Confidence' (Ac. 4:31)
"[About the disciples in Jerusalem after Peter and John were threatened and then released from prison, Luke wrote:] While they were praying, the place where they..."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'You Must Preach in Rome!' (Acts 23:11)
"That night [after Paul's difficult defense, hardships, and arrest,] the Lord appeared to Paul and said, "Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a..."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!