WEEK 1 | Jan 4-10
"The best coffee in town! It's awesome!"
- John Evans
"It's my absolute favorite place to go!"
- Greg Smith
SUNDAY, JANUARY 4
GLORIFY YOUR SON
“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you.’” John 17:1 (ESV)
A small sign once hung inside a London church during World War II: “When your knees knock together, kneel on them.” It was a reminder that fear should drive us to prayer, not panic.
When Jesus prayed this prayer in John 17, His “hour” had come, the hour of betrayal, suffering, and death. But instead of asking for escape, He asked for God’s glory. “Glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you.” Jesus wasn’t consumed with self-preservation; He was consumed with the Father’s purpose.
This verse captures the essence of prayer: aligning our hearts with God’s will. Jesus understood that His suffering would reveal the Father’s character: His holiness, justice, love, and mercy. The cross, which looked like humiliation to the world, would become the highest display of glory in history.
When we pray like Jesus, we shift the focus from “fix this” to “fulfill Your purpose through this.” We begin to see every hardship, success, or delay as an opportunity to magnify God’s name. Real prayer is not about changing God’s plan; it’s about changing our perspective to trust His plan.
REFLECTION
●When you pray, are you more concerned with your comfort or God’s glory?
●How could you use a current challenge to reveal more of who God is to our Shirley Hills community?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Ask God to help you value His glory above your own comfort or convenience.
●Pray that Shirley Hills Baptist Church's commitment to 40 days of prayer is transforming.
GLORIFY YOUR SON
“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you.’” John 17:1 (ESV)
A small sign once hung inside a London church during World War II: “When your knees knock together, kneel on them.” It was a reminder that fear should drive us to prayer, not panic.
When Jesus prayed this prayer in John 17, His “hour” had come, the hour of betrayal, suffering, and death. But instead of asking for escape, He asked for God’s glory. “Glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you.” Jesus wasn’t consumed with self-preservation; He was consumed with the Father’s purpose.
This verse captures the essence of prayer: aligning our hearts with God’s will. Jesus understood that His suffering would reveal the Father’s character: His holiness, justice, love, and mercy. The cross, which looked like humiliation to the world, would become the highest display of glory in history.
When we pray like Jesus, we shift the focus from “fix this” to “fulfill Your purpose through this.” We begin to see every hardship, success, or delay as an opportunity to magnify God’s name. Real prayer is not about changing God’s plan; it’s about changing our perspective to trust His plan.
REFLECTION
●When you pray, are you more concerned with your comfort or God’s glory?
●How could you use a current challenge to reveal more of who God is to our Shirley Hills community?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Ask God to help you value His glory above your own comfort or convenience.
●Pray that Shirley Hills Baptist Church's commitment to 40 days of prayer is transforming.
MONDAY, JANUARY 5
WHEN THE HOUR COMES
“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you.” John 17:1 (ESV)
In the 1968 Olympics, marathon runner John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania fell early in the race, dislocating his knee. Hours after the winner had crossed the finish line, Akhwari limped into the stadium, bleeding and grimacing. When reporters asked why he hadn’t quit, he said, “My country didn’t send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me to finish it.”
When Jesus said, “The hour has come,” He wasn’t referring to any ordinary moment. All of eternity had pointed to this “hour,” the culmination of His mission to redeem mankind. His earthly race was nearly complete. The same obedience that marked His life would now lead Him to the cross. The phrase “the hour has come” appears repeatedly in John’s Gospel, always linked to God’s divine timetable. Jesus didn’t rush the Father’s plan or resist it. He trusted it. When the hour arrived, He was ready.
You and I have “hours” too: seasons of testing or decision when obedience costs us something. The way we handle those moments reveals who we trust most. Like Jesus, we’re called to glorify God by finishing well.
REFLECTION
●What “hour” of testing or decision are you facing right now?
●How can you glorify God by trusting Him fully in it, setting an example for others at The Hills?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Ask God to strengthen your faith when obedience feels costly.
●Pray for endurance for the leaders and members of Shirley Hills to finish the race He has set before us, bringing glory to His name.
WHEN THE HOUR COMES
“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you.” John 17:1 (ESV)
In the 1968 Olympics, marathon runner John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania fell early in the race, dislocating his knee. Hours after the winner had crossed the finish line, Akhwari limped into the stadium, bleeding and grimacing. When reporters asked why he hadn’t quit, he said, “My country didn’t send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me to finish it.”
When Jesus said, “The hour has come,” He wasn’t referring to any ordinary moment. All of eternity had pointed to this “hour,” the culmination of His mission to redeem mankind. His earthly race was nearly complete. The same obedience that marked His life would now lead Him to the cross. The phrase “the hour has come” appears repeatedly in John’s Gospel, always linked to God’s divine timetable. Jesus didn’t rush the Father’s plan or resist it. He trusted it. When the hour arrived, He was ready.
You and I have “hours” too: seasons of testing or decision when obedience costs us something. The way we handle those moments reveals who we trust most. Like Jesus, we’re called to glorify God by finishing well.
REFLECTION
●What “hour” of testing or decision are you facing right now?
●How can you glorify God by trusting Him fully in it, setting an example for others at The Hills?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Ask God to strengthen your faith when obedience feels costly.
●Pray for endurance for the leaders and members of Shirley Hills to finish the race He has set before us, bringing glory to His name.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 6
PRAYER BEFORE PRESSURE
“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.” John 17:1–2 (ESV)
A pilot once told his students, “There are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots.” His point? Preparation prevents panic. Jesus modeled that principle perfectly.
Before the arrest, the whip, and the cross, He prayed. He didn’t wait for the crisis to hit. He prayed before it. He approached the Father with confidence, not because of His circumstances, but because of His position: “You have given Him authority over all flesh.” Jesus prayed from assurance, not anxiety.
The phrase “authority over all flesh” declares Jesus’ divine sovereignty. Even as the soldiers prepared to arrest Him, heaven’s throne was still occupied. Jesus knew that the Father’s plan would bring life, not defeat. Through the cross, He would give eternal life to all who believe.
When we pray before the pressure, we acknowledge the same truth: God is still in control. Prayer before the storm steadies the heart when the storm hits.
REFLECTION
●Do you pray more often to prepare for life’s trials or to recover from them?
●How would your perspective, and the perspective of our church, change if you truly believed God has full authority over every situation?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Ask God to deepen your confidence in His sovereignty before difficulties arise.
●Pray for peace in the Shirley Hills family that comes from trusting the One who holds all authority.
PRAYER BEFORE PRESSURE
“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.” John 17:1–2 (ESV)
A pilot once told his students, “There are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots.” His point? Preparation prevents panic. Jesus modeled that principle perfectly.
Before the arrest, the whip, and the cross, He prayed. He didn’t wait for the crisis to hit. He prayed before it. He approached the Father with confidence, not because of His circumstances, but because of His position: “You have given Him authority over all flesh.” Jesus prayed from assurance, not anxiety.
The phrase “authority over all flesh” declares Jesus’ divine sovereignty. Even as the soldiers prepared to arrest Him, heaven’s throne was still occupied. Jesus knew that the Father’s plan would bring life, not defeat. Through the cross, He would give eternal life to all who believe.
When we pray before the pressure, we acknowledge the same truth: God is still in control. Prayer before the storm steadies the heart when the storm hits.
REFLECTION
●Do you pray more often to prepare for life’s trials or to recover from them?
●How would your perspective, and the perspective of our church, change if you truly believed God has full authority over every situation?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Ask God to deepen your confidence in His sovereignty before difficulties arise.
●Pray for peace in the Shirley Hills family that comes from trusting the One who holds all authority.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7
WHAT IS ETERNAL LIFE?
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3 (ESV)
A Sunday School teacher once asked her class, “What do you need to do to go to heaven?” A little boy answered, “You have to be dead!” The class laughed, but that answer reveals a common misconception.
Many people believe eternal life begins after death. But Jesus defines it differently: eternal life begins the moment you know Him. The word know in Greek implies intimacy and experience, not mere information. Eternal life isn’t endless time; it’s an endless relationship: life lived in fellowship with God through Christ.
This relationship transforms everything. It gives meaning to suffering, purpose to obedience, and hope in death. Eternal life doesn’t start “someday”; it starts the day you trust Jesus. You don’t wait for heaven to experience God’s presence; you live it now. When you pray, remember that the greatest gift God ever gives isn’t things; it’s Himself.
REFLECTION
●How does understanding eternal life as a present relationship change the way you live?
●What practices, like serving at The Hills or participating in a D-Group, help you deepen your daily walk with Christ?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Thank God that eternal life began the moment you believed in Jesus.
●Ask Him to help the members of Shirley Hills know Him more intimately and follow Him more faithfully.
WHAT IS ETERNAL LIFE?
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3 (ESV)
A Sunday School teacher once asked her class, “What do you need to do to go to heaven?” A little boy answered, “You have to be dead!” The class laughed, but that answer reveals a common misconception.
Many people believe eternal life begins after death. But Jesus defines it differently: eternal life begins the moment you know Him. The word know in Greek implies intimacy and experience, not mere information. Eternal life isn’t endless time; it’s an endless relationship: life lived in fellowship with God through Christ.
This relationship transforms everything. It gives meaning to suffering, purpose to obedience, and hope in death. Eternal life doesn’t start “someday”; it starts the day you trust Jesus. You don’t wait for heaven to experience God’s presence; you live it now. When you pray, remember that the greatest gift God ever gives isn’t things; it’s Himself.
REFLECTION
●How does understanding eternal life as a present relationship change the way you live?
●What practices, like serving at The Hills or participating in a D-Group, help you deepen your daily walk with Christ?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Thank God that eternal life began the moment you believed in Jesus.
●Ask Him to help the members of Shirley Hills know Him more intimately and follow Him more faithfully.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8
FINISHING THE WORK
“I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” John 17:4 (ESV)
In the 1992 Olympic Games, British runner Derek Redmond tore his hamstring mid-race. As he struggled in pain, his father ran from the stands, wrapped his arm around him, and helped him across the finish line. The crowd stood in thunderous applause, not because he won, but because he finished.
Jesus declared in His prayer, “I have accomplished the work You gave Me.” From His birth in Bethlehem to His final breath on the cross, every step was guided by obedience. He healed the sick, preached the truth, and loved the lost; all in perfect submission to the Father’s will. Now, standing at the threshold of the cross, He could say, “It is done.”
This verse reminds us that success in God’s eyes isn’t measured by status, but by faithfulness. The world celebrates those who start well, but heaven celebrates those who finish well.
REFLECTION
●What assignment has God given you that still needs your obedience to finish (at home, work, or in service at SHBC)?
●How would your life look if you pursued faithfulness more than recognition?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Ask God for renewed strength to complete the work He’s placed in your hands.
●Pray for perseverance so that our Shirley Hills church family will finish our race in a way that glorifies Him.
FINISHING THE WORK
“I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” John 17:4 (ESV)
In the 1992 Olympic Games, British runner Derek Redmond tore his hamstring mid-race. As he struggled in pain, his father ran from the stands, wrapped his arm around him, and helped him across the finish line. The crowd stood in thunderous applause, not because he won, but because he finished.
Jesus declared in His prayer, “I have accomplished the work You gave Me.” From His birth in Bethlehem to His final breath on the cross, every step was guided by obedience. He healed the sick, preached the truth, and loved the lost; all in perfect submission to the Father’s will. Now, standing at the threshold of the cross, He could say, “It is done.”
This verse reminds us that success in God’s eyes isn’t measured by status, but by faithfulness. The world celebrates those who start well, but heaven celebrates those who finish well.
REFLECTION
●What assignment has God given you that still needs your obedience to finish (at home, work, or in service at SHBC)?
●How would your life look if you pursued faithfulness more than recognition?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Ask God for renewed strength to complete the work He’s placed in your hands.
●Pray for perseverance so that our Shirley Hills church family will finish our race in a way that glorifies Him.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 9
THE GLORY BEFORE THE WORLD WAS
“And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” John 17:5 (ESV)
A traveler once said, “The best part of heaven isn’t what’s there; it’s who’s there.” When Jesus prayed these words, He was longing to return to the glory He shared with the Father before Creation.
This verse unveils Jesus’ eternal nature. He wasn’t a prophet elevated to divinity; He was divine from the beginning. His glory didn’t begin in Bethlehem; it existed before the foundation of the world. The cross, rather than diminishing His glory, would display it in full.
Jesus’ longing for restored glory wasn’t selfish; it was redemptive. His return to the Father would open the door for our redemption. Through His death and resurrection, we’re invited into fellowship with the eternal God. When we live for God’s glory instead of our own, we join that eternal story. Our temporary troubles are preparing us for eternal triumph.
REFLECTION
●How does knowing Jesus’ eternal glory strengthen your trust in Him?
●What would it mean for you to live today with eternity in view, especially in your interactions with the Shirley Hills community?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Praise Jesus for His eternal majesty and the hope of sharing in His glory.
●Ask God to lift your eyes above the temporary and focus your heart on the eternal.
THE GLORY BEFORE THE WORLD WAS
“And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” John 17:5 (ESV)
A traveler once said, “The best part of heaven isn’t what’s there; it’s who’s there.” When Jesus prayed these words, He was longing to return to the glory He shared with the Father before Creation.
This verse unveils Jesus’ eternal nature. He wasn’t a prophet elevated to divinity; He was divine from the beginning. His glory didn’t begin in Bethlehem; it existed before the foundation of the world. The cross, rather than diminishing His glory, would display it in full.
Jesus’ longing for restored glory wasn’t selfish; it was redemptive. His return to the Father would open the door for our redemption. Through His death and resurrection, we’re invited into fellowship with the eternal God. When we live for God’s glory instead of our own, we join that eternal story. Our temporary troubles are preparing us for eternal triumph.
REFLECTION
●How does knowing Jesus’ eternal glory strengthen your trust in Him?
●What would it mean for you to live today with eternity in view, especially in your interactions with the Shirley Hills community?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Praise Jesus for His eternal majesty and the hope of sharing in His glory.
●Ask God to lift your eyes above the temporary and focus your heart on the eternal.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10
THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER
“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you.” John 17:1 (ESV)
During a fierce storm at sea, a terrified passenger asked the captain, “Are we safe?” The captain replied calmly, “This ship was built for this.” That’s the truth of prayer. You were built to glorify God, even in storms.
Jesus’ prayer in John 17 shows us the true purpose of prayer: not to change God’s will, but to align with it. He didn’t pray for escape but for endurance. He didn’t ask for ease but for God’s glory to shine through suffering. Prayer is less about control and more about surrender.
When we pray like Jesus, our desires shift from temporary relief to eternal results. We begin to see every challenge as an opportunity to showcase God’s power. The more we surrender, the more peace we experience.
REFLECTION
●How does Jesus’ example challenge your usual approach to prayer?
●What current situation in your life or at Shirley Hills could become an opportunity for God’s glory?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Ask God to make His glory your ultimate goal in every prayer.
●Pray for the strength to surrender your plans to His perfect will.
THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER
“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you.” John 17:1 (ESV)
During a fierce storm at sea, a terrified passenger asked the captain, “Are we safe?” The captain replied calmly, “This ship was built for this.” That’s the truth of prayer. You were built to glorify God, even in storms.
Jesus’ prayer in John 17 shows us the true purpose of prayer: not to change God’s will, but to align with it. He didn’t pray for escape but for endurance. He didn’t ask for ease but for God’s glory to shine through suffering. Prayer is less about control and more about surrender.
When we pray like Jesus, our desires shift from temporary relief to eternal results. We begin to see every challenge as an opportunity to showcase God’s power. The more we surrender, the more peace we experience.
REFLECTION
●How does Jesus’ example challenge your usual approach to prayer?
●What current situation in your life or at Shirley Hills could become an opportunity for God’s glory?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
●Ask God to make His glory your ultimate goal in every prayer.
●Pray for the strength to surrender your plans to His perfect will.