“But if you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This brings great glory to My Father.” (John 15:7-8 NLT)
It would seem the verses above are an open invitation to ask for the desires of our heart to be met, and on some levels, they are, but let’s dig deeper. The broader context is a conversation Jesus is having with His disciples shortly before He’s betrayed and murdered. If we turn back to John 14:13-14, we’ll get a broader sense as to exactly what He’s saying.
“You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it…” Yes, but notice His next words: “…so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.” The foundational purpose of prayer isn’t to get something, it’s ultimately to give something. Our requests should prompt Jesus to answer in such a way that His Father is glorified, blessed, pleased, and magnified.
What might that look like? Let’s say the end of the money comes before the end of the month and I have no way to pay my ____________ (and you can fill in the blank). So, what do I do? I pray, but how? “Oh Lord Jesus, You see my empty bank account. I realize now I should have waited on that vacation, but…” And on and on it goes. Is the Lord going to answer your prayer for money when you’ve painted yourself into that corner? He may, if you’re a brand-new believer, but He doesn’t as a rule, reward irresponsibility, He rewards faith.
So, in another context, let’s say someone prays like this: “Father, my love for You grows stronger every day, so I know You hear me when I pray. I’ve done all I can with the little I have coming in, but my kids are hungry, and I have no resources to adequately care for them. I’m so grateful for Your care of me since my husband died, and I want You to be glorified through Your provision of me and my family. I’m not begging, because You are a good, good Father, I’m just thanking You in advance for how You will meet this need. In Jesus’ holy name.”
Prayer is an avenue of learning and growing in our love for and dependence upon the Lord, which has nothing to do with where we are socially, economically, or in any other way. Trust in God grows out of our hunger for Him, not hunger for provisions to live better materially, but to grow closer to the Lord spiritually.
When I literally didn’t have two pennies to rub together and could have papered my wall with eviction notices, I was never evicted, not because I was a smooth talker or was resourceful, but because, by God’s grace, I understood that the Lord was my provider, and He ALWAYS provided. Sometimes it was close (😊), but He NEVER failed.
God wasn’t my “sugar daddy,” He was my loving Father who used my limited resources to teach me things about myself and about Himself that I desperately needed to learn. He humbled me when I wasn’t ready and/or willing to humble myself. I’ve never forgotten the lessons I learned in that season.
So, today, if you see me pick up a penny, it’s not because I need the penny now, it’s to remind me in whom I’ve placed my trust. In this season I have need of nothing material. My Father cares for every detail of my life and I will continue to bless His holy Name for His faithfulness and provision.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 