27 Prayers from John 15
Jesus was the master of taking everyday life and using it to paint a picture of Truths about Himself and life in the Kingdom of God. In John 15 He uses the picture of a vine and branches and fruit. This was not just a random story but one that came from their walk. The final words of John 14 have Jesus telling his disciples, “let’s go for a walk.” They begin to talk, perhaps looking towards the Temple in Jerusalem where the national symbol was placed on the gate. It would be like our stars and stripes, but for the Jewish people it was a grape vine. It was around 140 feet from the porch of the temple to the holy place. Perfectly carved with the branches and leaves made from fine gold. The stalks that help the fruit were the size of people and the fruit that decorated the branches were costly jewels. From time to time the rich and patriotic Jews would add to the vine’s decorations with their own riches. The vine. The branches. The fruit. It was a symbol of great value and meaning for them.1
Perhaps as Jesus is walking with the disciples and the gold is reflecting the lights of the evening, He gives the final of His seven “I AM” statements. You can almost hear Him as he leans in and says, “You see that beautiful vine. And all of that beautiful dressing on the vine?” “I am the REAL Vine and My Father is the FARMER.” “All of that gold carving. That impressive work of art. All of the fine jewelry is nice but they do nothing for you. I AM the fulfillment of everything that symbol stands for and without me you’ve got nothing.”
That is still true for us. Without Him, we’ve got nothing.
Here are 27 prayers from John 15 that I have prayed and continue to pray. That is one prayer for each verse of the chapter to help you abide in Him. They are not meant to be taken so much as a study of John 15 but my heart’s response to what Jesus was telling His disciples. Hopefully you will see that they reflect an honest desire to live connected to Jesus. You may find that they are a springboard into other prayers that the Spirit leads you to pray. My desire is that they would at least help you connect more deeply to Him and have your heart opened a little more to His love for you.
Before you begin your journey of praying each verse, sit down and take a few minutes to read the entire chapter of John 15. Read it slowly with a listening heart. Imagine Jesus and His loving voice speaking to You. He is giving you His heart in these words. They are great words and a great reminder of the goodness of abiding in Him.
Prayer 1
John 15:1 – “I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer.” (MSG)
Jesus help me remember that there a lot of fake vines out there. They come in all shapes and sizes. There are countless things around me that will act like real vines, advertising life and joy and satisfaction and happiness. Some of the vines look like achievement, success, money, attention, approval, influence, and material things. The list goes on and on, and all of them are fake vines. None of them are the ones nurtured by the Father. None of them last.
Jesus you are the only Real Vine. You are the source of life.
You are the One loved by The Father and extending love to me.
You are the One who offers real life satisfaction.
Help me stay connected to You.
Protect me from buying the lies of the fake vines.
You are the Real Vine.
Help me remember that today.
-Amen-
Prayer 2
John 15:2 “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
Father, to be taken away from you sounds terrible. If You are life, and You are, then to be taken away from You would make everything else meaningless.
Father, I want to be a branch that bears fruit for you. I know that fruit is good. I know it is sweet. I know it brings health. I know it is enjoyable. But, I confess that I don’t know exactly what it means for me to bear fruit.
It’s probably something really simple.
So, whatever it looks like for fruit to come from my life, let it come.
Whatever You need to do in me for there to be fruit, do it.
Whatever pruning means for me, prune me.
Help me be a branch that bears fruit for You.
-Amen-
Prayer 3
John 15: 3 “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”
Jesus, thank You for Your word. Thank You that they are more than just words. Your words are life. Your words are direction. Your words are wisdom.
I know that it is only by Your word that I know You. And it’s by Your word that I can stay on track with You.
Your word shows me all of the amazing things about You. Your word shows me all of the ways that I need constant cleaning.
Help me to love the the lamp of Your words.
Help me to hang on to Your every word.
Help me to stay in the word.
-Amen-
Prayer 4
John 15:4 “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.” MSG
Jesus. The thought that You have made Your home in me is mind blowing. That You, the creator of the universe, sustainer of all things, Savior, and Son of God, would enter into the life of a fragile, insecure, fearful, weak, imperfect person like me is nearly impossible to understand. It really makes no sense!
But, I guess that is the beauty and power of perfect grace and perfect love. You are amazing!
Now, help me respond to what You have done by gratefully making my home in You every day of my life. Help me know what it means to live each day of my life connected to You. Help me see that You are life. Help me see that it is only by being at home in You that life will make sense. Help me believe that it is only by being at home in You that I can live the life produces what is most important to You.
Thank You for living in me.
-Amen-
Prayer 5
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”.
Jesus. Today I realize that one of the easiest things I can do is live like I don’t need you. I can work to pick myself up and get it done.
I’ve got a lot to do. My list is long. It is full of big things and little things. I can work hard, achieve, succeed, be strong and call it a day. I can do all that but really do nothing if I don’t give it all over to you at the the start. The truth is that I need you desperately for everything.
So here is my day. Here is my list. Here are my goals and dreams.
Be my source and purpose in all of it.
Help me see what is important to You.
Help do what is important to You.
Help me live from a heart that depends on You.
Help me do all the big things and little things in such a way, that whether they get done or not, You are pleased.
Jesus, You are my home. You are my life. You are the goal. I will stay connected to You today by Your grace and love, and You will take care of the rest.
-Amen-
Prayer 6
John 15:6 “Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.” NLT
Father I do not like the sound of being useless, withered, tossed in a pile and being burned. I don’t fully understand what this means. But, I do know that I don’t want to be any of those things. None of it sounds good or what You desire for me.
What does sound good is “remaining in You.” So God, help me stay as far away as possible from useless, withered and burned. Help stay as close as possible to remaining, abiding and at home with You.
Help me be useful and alive. Not tossed to the side but connected to Your life and love.
By Your grace, I will remain in You today.
–Amen–
Prayer 7
John 15:7 “But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.” MSG
Jesus, You are my home. You are my place of rest. You are my source of energy and life. Help me remember that all day today and live in that promise.
In Your grace, allow Your words to live in me. Help me think about them in every situation I encounter. Help me choose to live by them in every way possible. Lead me to love Your word more and more. And, by Your grace, help me believe that what You say is always the best thing for me.
And as I pray today, help me pray in a way that lines up with what you promise. Help me pray in faith that You are listening. Help me pray in faith that whatever Your answer may be, it is always the right answer.
Thank You Jesus for being my home. Thank You Jesus for the goodness of Your words.
—Amen—
Prayer 8
John 15:8 “My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.”
Father, my prayer today is simple. Help me to put You on display in whatever I do today. Help me be the kind of person who cares more and more about You in all things. Help me make choices that show that You are an amazing, loving Father. Help me be a person who glorifies You more than I glorify anyone or anything else.
Father I pray that the fruit of my life, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control towards all people and in all moments puts a smile on Your face. I know that I need You help in all of this! So I am asking for You, help me produce good fruit. Be pleased with me today.
I am Your disciple. Let everyone see that You are the most important thing in my life.
–Amen–
Prayer 9
John 15:9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”
Father, as I think about this verse today, I am blown away by what it says. I am blown away by what Jesus says. Jesus, the Son of God, who has been eternally and perfectly loved by God the Father, is expressing that same love to His creation. That is massive and impossible to get my little mind around!
I am so small. But You love me in such a giant way!
Father, it makes wonder, “How and why would You love me like that?” I have done everything to not deserve it! But you give it! Perfect, holy, eternal love! I guess You just love because that is who You are! Just to say “Thank you” seems so small.
Father, I pray that You would help me do what the rest of the verse says, remain in Your love.
Help me daily make Your love my home.
Help me remember the eternal greatness of Your love.
Help me never take for granted the reality of Your love.
Help me find comfort during this crazy moment in our world in the truth of Your love.
Help me love the people around me with Your love!
Thank You for Your love.
—-Amen—-
Prayer 10
John 15:10, “If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.” (MSG)
Jesus. The One who has given and keeps on giving perfect love.
Jesus. The One who lived out the perfect example of a relationship with the Father.
Jesus. The One who desires for me to be as close to You as possible.
I need to be closer and more intimate with You. I want to know You more deeply. I want live for You more freely. I want to be more like You. So Jesus, help me today to do just what You say to do. Help me to keep your commands. Help me see through the eyes of love. Help me live a life of love. Help me love like you love.
Home. There is no place like it. Help me live at home in You today.
—Amen–
Prayer 11
John 15:11 “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.” The Message
Jesus, thank You for being concerned about my joy today. Thank You for desiring for me to have not just a little joy but perfect and full joy.
To be honest, sometimes joy seems so hidden. It doesn’t seem to last long. Sometimes, I am not even totally sure what it means to be joyful. So I need your help today. You say that your words and commands are given so that I can have full joy. So please help me live by them.
Help me believe that Your way is the best way.
Help me do what You say even when I don’t fully understand it.
Help me trust that Your way is the only way to real joy.
Help choose to do what You tell me to do.
Help me choose Your joy today in all of its fullness.
Jesus, thank You for wanting me to be joyful!
—Amen—
Prayer 12
John 15:12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you.“
Jesus. What an overwhelming command. Love people the same way that You have loved me? Is that really possible? Can I do that? After all, You have loved me way beyond what I deserve and even more than I realize.
But, this is Your command for me today.
If You commanded it, then I know You can make it happen in me.
If You commanded it, then even though it is overwhelming, it is right.
If You commanded it, then I want to obey.
So, Jesus, help me today. Create in me a bigger heart to love. Help me remember how deeply You have loved me. Help me be willing to love the people around me in the same way. Help me love, not just with my words but with my actions.
Help me love as You have loved me.
-Amen-
Prayer 13
John 15:13 “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.”
Jesus, thank you for laying down Your life for me! Thank you for showing what love looks like in its perfect form!
I know that I probably won’t actually die a physical death for any of my friends today. But help me to choose to treat them like they are more important than me.
What a huge heart change I need!
I can be so selfish!
I shrink love down to where it really isn’t all that loving.
Only You can change my selfish heart!
Change it!
Help me see people through the eyes of perfect love.
Help me be less selfish!
Help me choose to sacrifice for others!
Make me be more like You, in the way that You love.
—Amen—
Prayer 14
John 15:14 “You are my friends if you do what I command you.”
Jesus. Just the thought that You would be my friend is amazing. The One who holds all things together at this very moment wants to be my friend. I do not deserve that! So thank You Jesus! Thank you for desiring to have an intimate, deep relationship with me. Thank You for making it possible!
So my response is simple. I want to have You as my friend.
I will gladly live by Your command. You said “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you.”
So today, as Your friend, I will open my eyes and heart to love people in a way that helps them see You.
I will put others ahead of myself. I will choose to sacrifice.
I will choose to love.
Could there be anything better than being called Your friend? No. Help me today to abide in Your love, my friend, Jesus.
—Amen—
Prayer 15
John 15:15 “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
Jesus, thank You again today that You call me Your friend. It is still an overwhelming thought! I know that I need that reminder every single day!
And to read that our friendship is not closed off is so comforting!
Your friendship is not from a distance.
Your friendship is not shallow.
It is deep. It is rich. It is beautiful.
I do not deserve it but You have given it!
You have drawn me close and opened up Your heart and You relationship with The Father. Just like You made known everything to Your disciples, would You please grant me that grace?
To know EVERYTHING the Father has made known to You sounds amazing! I want to know more! I need to be closer to You! I need a deeper understanding of The Father!
As Your friend, help me today to know more of what The Father has made known to You.
—Amen—
Prayer 16
John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.”
Jesus, this first thought is amazing. You chose me! That does not even seem right! Why would You, the creator of the universe choose me? I know that I do not deserve it. I have actually done plenty to disqualify myself from everything that You could offer.
But, You chose me!
Thank You for that grace!
Thank You for that mercy!
Thank You for that kindness!
You, Jesus, chose me!
There is so much about this I don’t understand. You say You have a purpose for me. You say that You want to produce fruit from my life that will last a long time. You say that when that happens, I will be able to ask anything and the Father will answer!
There is so much to abiding in You!
All of that sounds so huge! I want what You have for me!
Help me not waste Your choice of me!
I do not want to take that granted!
I do not want to miss the life You Have for me!
Thank you for choosing me!
—Amen—
Prayer 17
John 15:17 “This is my command: Love each other.”
Jesus, I see Your point! Love! This is important to You. It is Your command! It is the way You want us to live!
Over and over You are telling me this message! I guess I need to hear it again.
Don’t let me move on until I live it!
Don’t let me call it old news!
Don’t let me rush past this command today!
Don’t let me believe I have mastered it until I actually have!
Since love is so important to You, change my heart so that it is more important to me.
Since love is what You have done for me, let love be what I do for others today.
—Amen—
Prayer 18
John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.”
Jesus, hate is such a strong word but it is one I have to deal with today. I guess that’s just the reality of hard news. But to think of You being hated! I know it happened but how could You, the most loving of all be hated? You are so good! It makes no sense, but it is true!
Since this is true, help me remember that as I follow You, there will be times when I am misunderstood, rejected and maybe even hated. It just comes with the territory.
In those moments, help me remember You!
Remind me of what You went through for me!
Remind me that it is better to be accepted by You than the world around me!
Reminded me that it is always right to follow You, no matter what anyone else thinks.
Remind me that even when You were hated, You kept on loving.
So, even when it is hard…especially when it is hard, please give me the grace to keep following. Please give me the grace to keep loving.
—Amen—
Prayer 19
John 15:19 “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
Jesus, Whoa! I belong to YOU! Thank You for that reminder today! I needed it. I really needed it. What a crazy gift to be chosen by You for a life that is so much better than what the world can give. There is so much comfort in this truth for me. Honestly, it can be too easy to lose sight of that sometimes. I just get so distracted and tempted to be loved and accepted by the world.
Thank You for also reminding me that the world does not love me. It is not looking out for my best. It is not for my ultimate joy. It is not on my side. When I am tempted to live by what the world says is good, help me see through the lie. Help me see what is true.
I do not belong to the world!
I do not have to live by what the culture around me says is good.
You offer so much more!
You are so much better and I belong to You!
Thank You Jesus for this reminder today.
—Amen—
Prayer 20
John 15:20 “Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”
Jesus. You are infinitely greater than me! The words of John the Baptist pop into my mind, “He must increase. I must decrease.” You would think that it wouldn’t be hard for me to remember how much greater You are. But my mind and heart can be so selfish and forgetful. Forgive me for that.
Today I am asking You to help me be excited to be like You! Let being like You, even if that means being treated wrong, be the joy of my life. Help me be excited about becoming less selfish if that means I get to become more like You.
If being like You means I will be mistreated, Help me embrace it!
If being like You means speaking words that change a life, help me speak!
If being like You means I need to sacrifice something in my life, show me what to sacrifice.
Jesus, I will serve You today, whatever that brings.
Jesus, I want to be like You.
—Amen—
Prayer 21
John 15:21 “They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.”
Jesus, Your Name is above every name. So, if I have to be treated badly because I love You, then I am in. It’s not that being mistreated is fun, but You and what You are about are more important than just having fun.
Jesus, I do think about all the people in my life that don’t know how good You are. I think about all the people that have not realized how loving the Father is. I think about all the people who are missing out on You. All the people who are choosing to turn their back on all that there is in Your Name. It makes me sad for them.
Jesus, I do belong to You and I will embrace all that means today. But I do pray for the ones who do not know the One who sent You. Be gracious to them and show them the Father.
—Amen—
Prayer 22
John 15:22 “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.”
Jesus, this verse is hard. I know that You are full of grace but You are also full of Truth. Sometimes, Truth is just hard!
Thank You for speaking the Truth and showing me my faults. Thank You for showing me that I am guilty. That sounds kind of strange to say but if I didn’t know my guilt, I wouldn’t know my need.
I need you!
Jesus, I know that I have committed a lot of sins and it could be easy for me to try to justify them in one way or another. But, I have no excuse. None of us do! I am just plain old guilty!
So here I am today, in all of my faults, bad choices, attitudes, selfishness and everything else.
Here I am with no excuses.
I know what is right because of You!
Forgive me today.
Help me be a person who helps others see their need for You.
Help me be a person of truth and grace.
—Amen—
Prayer 23
John 15:23 “Whoever hates me hates my Father as well.”
Jesus, there is that word again that feels so harsh. Hate. I want nothing to do with hate! I can’t imagine hating You! There have been times when I did not understand things that happened and even times when I was mad at You. But to hate You and to hate the Father? No way.
Here is what I know about You and The Father. You have both loved me. I have given You every reason not to. I have shown You over and over how selfish, foolish, unwise and stubborn I can be. But You have loved me!
Today I pray for more people to know how loving You are.
I pray that people will be moved from hate to love.
I pray that people will know the love of the Father.
I pray that they would love You and Him.
—Amen—
Prayer 24
John 15:24 “If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not have sin. Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.”
Jesus, no one can do what You can do. You are a miracle worker. You show perfect love and compassion. You speak with power. It is not even close. Everything You do is perfect.
I have read about what You have done and I have seen it with my own eyes. I have experienced it in my life and have seen it in the lives of others.
You do what no one else can do! Thank You!
But now that I have seen how good You are, how perfect You are, and what You can do, I see how imperfect I am.
I am nothing compared to You!
But I do not hate You!
I love You! I am thankful for You! I need You.
Please help the people around me to see how wonderful You are.
Please help them see and believe.
–Amen–
Prayer 25
John 15:25 “But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: They hated me for no reason”
Jesus, I am so sorry for the hate that You have endured. You have done absolutely nothing to deserve to be treated with hate.
You gave everything for us! You deserve love!
If I am really honest, I know that I have done plenty of things along the way that have not been loving. I have chosen to be selfish. I have chosen to ignore things in Your Word. I have been impatient. I have treated people badly. I have complained when I should have been thankful.
The list goes on and on and on! Please forgive me for treating You the way that I have. You have been so good to me! There is no reason for me to ever treat You that way!
You deserve love.
Help me love You today.
—Amen—
Prayer 26
John 15:26 “When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father —the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me.”
Jesus! What a gift! The Counselor. The Helper. The One who will be with me always.
The Holy Spirit!
It is so amazing that You would send Yourself to keep me connected to You at all times. It is just another way that You are showing Your unstoppable love and grace.
Here You are right now, Spirit of God.
With me.
In me.
Counseling me.
Reminding me of Truth.
Comforting me.
Speaking to me about Jesus.
God. You are in me right now. The God of the universe is in me! That is beyond amazing!
Let that sink in nice and deep.
Thank You Jesus for sending the Holy Spirit!
—Amen—
Prayer 27
John 15:27 “You also will testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.”
Jesus, You have always been so good to me. You are good to me every moment of every day. I do not deserve it.
You have been patient. You have been kind.
You have challenged me. You have pushed me.
You have shown me grace. You have provided for me.
You have welcomed me in. You have given me life.
You have been perfect towards me in every way.
Jesus, You have loved me.
So how could I not tell people about You? It is a gift and an honor to know You. It is a gift and an honor to speak about You.
Jesus, You are so good. Help me let other people know just how good You are!
Here I am, abiding in You. Living for You.
—Amen—
Closing
Now that you have finished your time of praying through John 15, I hope that you have been reminded just how good Jesus is. I hope that you have enjoyed a more intimate relationship with Him. That is what it is all about!
As I have read and prayed, several things have been clear to me.
Jesus has a love for us that is beyond comprehension. Jesus has a deep desire to be in an ongoing close relationship with us. A close relationship with Him is the greatest gift in life. Jesus wants us to know that our lives matter in this world. Jesus wants us to remember that the best life is possible only when we are connected to Him. We need Him! Jesus wants us to know how important it is for us to love each other. You and I will never stop learning what it means to love and sacrifce. We need each other! Jesus wants us to know that there will be times when following Him will be hard, but that He will be with us always.
Making our home in Jesus is the best life. I am praying that You experience Him every day and the joy He has for you.
“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. – John 15:11 (The Message)
________________________
- R. Kent Hughes, “John: That You May Believe” (Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Books, 1999), 351.
Abiding in Jesus 