How many times did Jesus mention the Father as He prayed in John chapter fourteen?

Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me.” – John 14:6 GNT

I love the invitation that we can come to the Father through Jesus.

And I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Father’s glory will be shown through the Son. If you ask me^[d] for anything in my name, I will do it. – John 14:13-14 GNT

And I love the promise that He will answer and will respond to our ask.

My mind today is on the work of God in my town and how I am called to respond.

A city becomes great when the righteous give it their blessing; but a city is brought to ruin by the words of the wicked. – Proverbs 11:11 GNT

Can I imagine how I can benefit my town through my prayers rather than my debates? Prayer changes things. I believe my town is preserved and prospered because of those who are praying for it. Prosperity depends on my prayers. and my actions as I serve my community.

The same is in my own life. I always fight sin and temptation. It is a spiritual battle.

So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God’s likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy. – Ephesians 4:22-24 GNT

The idea of getting rid of my old self is not a passive undertaking. I cannot just pray about it and walk away thinking my job is done. Prayer without the pursuit of holiness puts me in a bad place. I am called by God through the power of the Holy Spirit and able to obey God through the same Spirit. I can grow in my holiness as the Spirit of God works in me and the more I have Him dwell in me the more I can war against the sin that wants to set up camp within me. I am not only called to salvation, put to a pursuit of holiness and wholeness.

I repeat here what I previously said in reference to the Lord’s Prayer: if in the midst of such thoughts the Holy Spirit begins to preach in your heart with rich, enlightening thoughts, honor him by letting go of this written scheme; be still and listen to him who can do better than you can. Remember what he says and note it well and you will behold wondrous things in the law of God, as David says. – Luther