(John 15:7 NASB) “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
This morning we continue our series entitled, “Re-Energizing Your Prayer Life.” Last wee we looked at “Hurdles to Answered Prayer.” For the next couple of weeks we will look at “What to Pray For.” But before we get to deep into it, I need to establish the foundation by reminding us that we must pray in accordance with God’s will, and to make sure we do, we should pray in accordance with God’s Word. Why? Because God’s Word is His will documented. We are supposed to be led of the Spirit in all things, especially in prayer. When people say, “I feel led to pray for this,” but the thing they are praying for is not in line with God’s Word, then it is clear that they might be led, but they are not being led of the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God will never lead you contrary to the Word of God.
As a note, to this point in the series I have used Dr. Myles Munroe’s “Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer” as a reference. For the next couple of weeks I may reference Dr. Frederick K.C. Price’s “Answered Prayer Guaranteed” and Dr. Veronica Winston’s “Prayer Confessions to Dominate the New Millennium.”
In our text Jesus explained that when we get to the point where God’s Word literally abides (takes residence) in our heart, then we can basically ask for whatever we want, because at that point what we want will be what God wants. The God’s Word translation of this verse reads, “If you live in me and what I say lives in you, then ask for anything you want, and it will be yours.” So yes, the Father wants us to ask and He wants us to ask for whatever we want, but He expects our wants to line up with His wants. This happens when we align our wants with His Word! The onus is therefore upon us to find out what God’s Word says concerning our situation and then pray that! John said it this way, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have (right now, present tense) what we asked of him” (1 John 4:14,15; italics added).
Jesus prayed this way every time, and because of it He was confident that He would get results every time He prayed. Dr. Price said the following about this: “Do you see how this takes all the guesswork out of prayer? Can you see why people who don’t understand this accuse me of being “arrogant”? They say, “Well, who does he think he is that God always hears his prayers?” That’s easy: I am a child of God in the way I hope that you are a child of God, and I ask according to His Word. I don’t ask anything that is not according to His Word, so I am 100% assured that He hears me every time I pray… By listening to the prayers that people pray in many churches, you can hear that they have failed to focus their prayers on the Word of God. Instead, many prayer are focusing on ‘sounding spiritual’ and those prayers don’t get many results.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Ask in accordance with God’s Word.
2. Ask in the present tense (in faith).
3. Ask with complete confidence (in faith).
4. Believe you HAVE received AS you ask.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me to pray. You promised to hear me every time I pray in accordance with Your Word. Therefore, I am committed to doing just that. I search the scriptures concerning whatever I am facing, and I make prayers that line up with Your Word. By praying in accordance with Your Word I know I am not asking for anything that is not in line with Your will. And my knowledge of my prayers being in line with Your Word helps build my confidence while and after I pray. Your Word also tells me that when I pray this way – in accordance with Your Word and with confidence (or faith) – I literally have whatever I am praying for. I have it NOW, even though I may not see it for some time. I receive it in my heart well before I ever see it in my hands, but that’s okay, because I pray and live by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
