Praying John 17:26 — To Know the Father’s Love
Where Jesus Lands the Plane
John 17 ends with Jesus praying, “I have revealed You to them, and I will continue to do so. Then Your love for Me will be in them, and I will be in them” (John 17:26, NLT). That’s not a nice benediction—it’s a battle plan for your prayer life. Jesus shows us what to ask for, why it matters, and what God intends to do in response.
If your prayer time sometimes feels like talking into the ceiling fan, John 17:26 is your oxygen mask. Jesus aims your prayers at the bullseye: knowing the Father, experiencing His love, and living from Christ’s indwelling presence. Let’s pray like that—on purpose.
“I have revealed You to them” — Pray to know the Father
Jesus says He has revealed the Father. “Name” in Scripture isn’t just the letters on a business card; it’s God’s character—His holiness, mercy, faithfulness, justice, tenderness, and power. When Jesus reveals the Father, He’s inviting us to pray beyond generic “bless me” requests and into the character of God. Your prayer life levels up when you pray who God is, not just what you need.
Practically, pray Scripture that showcases the Father’s name. Pick one attribute a day (Father who sees, Father who provides, Father who is near) and thank Him for it before you ask for anything. As you do, your confidence grows because your faith is no longer anchored to your circumstances—it’s anchored to Him.
“I will continue to make You known” — Pray for ongoing revelation
Jesus is not done revealing the Father. He continues this work by the Spirit through the Word and within the church. That means today’s understanding is not your ceiling. You can—and should—ask for more light, more clarity, and more awe. “Open my eyes to see wonderful truths in Your instructions” (Psalm 119:18) is a John-17:26 kind of prayer.
Build this into rhythm. Before reading the Bible, pause and pray: “Jesus, continue to make the Father known to me.” After reading, ask, “What did this passage reveal about the Father’s heart?” Then, pray that truth into your situation by name. Revelation isn’t trivia; it’s fuel for trust and obedience.
“That the love… may be in them” — Pray to experience the Father’s love
Jesus doesn’t settle for head knowledge. He wants the Father’s love to live inside you. That love is not a vibe; it’s God’s settled, sacrificial, never-stopping affection—poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). If you’ve treated God’s love as a doctrine to recite rather than a reality to receive, John 17:26 invites you to ask for both.
How do you pray for that? Get specific. Name the places where you feel unlovable, overdrawn, or numb, and ask the Father to meet you there. Pray Ephesians 3:17–19 over yourself and your church: “Lord, root and ground us in love. Let us grasp how wide and long and high and deep Your love is… and fill us with all the fullness of God.” Expect the Spirit to answer with comfort, conviction, and courage.
“And I in them” — Pray to abide in Christ’s indwelling presence
Jesus’ final clause is explosive: “I in them.” Union with Christ is the engine of prayer. You are not trying to get God’s attention from far away; the risen Christ dwells in you. Abiding doesn’t mean trying harder—it means trusting deeper, staying connected, and obeying promptly (John 15). Prayer becomes conversation with the One who already lives within.
In practice, turn interruptions into invitations. Whisper, “Jesus, You are in me; lead me right now.” When anxiety spikes, pray, “Christ in me, be my peace.” When temptation hits, pray, “Christ in me, be my strength.” Indwelling presence moves prayer from a morning appointment to an all-day companionship.
How to Pray John 17:26 — A Simple, Deep Pattern (Use Daily)
R—Revelation: “Jesus, reveal the Father’s heart.” Read a short passage. Name one attribute of God you see. Then pray it twice: first as worship (“Father, You are faithful”), then as request (“Be faithful to me in ___ today”).
L—Love: “Father, let Your love be in me.” Bring one raw place to God (fear, anger, shame). Ask the Spirit to pour in the Father’s love there. Sit in silence for one minute; receive, don’t perform.
A—Abide: “Christ, live Your life through me.” Surrender today’s decisions. Ask for one next step of obedience. Promise to act on the first nudge that aligns with Scripture.
O—Overflow: Pray the same for one person and one church. Name them. Ask for revelation, love, and abiding to overflow in their lives and into your city.
(Yes, that spells R-L-A-O. It’s not cute—but it works. We’re going for transformation, not Scrabble points.)
When it’s hard: Roadblocks & how to pray through them
“I don’t feel anything.” Feelings are wonderful servants and lousy bosses. Ask for the Spirit’s witness (Romans 8:16), then keep showing up. Pray the truth even when emotions are quiet. Often the furnace warms after you keep the firewood coming.
“I blew it again.” Condemnation says, “Stay away until you improve.” The gospel says, “Draw near because Jesus intercedes” (Hebrews 7:25). Confess quickly, receive cleansing (1 John 1:9), and resume the conversation. Failure is a speed bump, not a road-closed sign.
Sample Prayers You Can Use This Week
Morning (2 minutes):
“Jesus, continue to make the Father known to me today. Father, You are merciful and faithful. Let Your love for Jesus be in me as I make decisions. Christ in me, live through me at work, at home, and in interruptions. Amen.”
Evening (2 minutes):
“Father, where did I sense Your love today? Thank You. Where did I resist? Forgive me and change me. Jesus, reveal more of the Father tomorrow, and deepen my abiding. Fill (name) and our church with Your love.”
Links to the Series
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From Checklist to Crying Out: Learning to Pray from the Heart
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When Little Feels Like Not Enough: Jesus’ Prayer Before Feeding the Multitudes
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Wrestling in the Garden: Learning to Pray Like Jesus in Gethsemane
Final Call to Action
If Praying John 17:26 helped you refocus your prayer life, keep the momentum going. Explore our books at discipleblueprintpress.com and discipleship resources at discipleblueprint.com.
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Share this post with someone who needs to know the Father’s love—and tell us in the comments how you’re praying John 17:26 this week
Let’s pray like Jesus: revelation from the Father, love within, and Christ living through us. That’s a final blessing worth living.
