RIGHT ASKING

Jesus said, “Ask the father for anything in my name, and he will give it to you.” It appears like this is almost a trick statement because it is in what we are asking for that reveals our hearts. And yet, no matter what the asking is about, it usually seems relevant and real at the moment we are asking and what is on our heart.

Needing money, healing, health, a job, to get rid of a job, to restore a broken relationship…or whatever, are always on going needs that cause us “to ask the Father” for some solution. But there is an asking that goes beyond petitions. It goes past our praise and worship and is on the other side of thanksgiving. It is asking for union with the very presence of the God we are petitioning.

This is the tricky part of this statement; will we ask “in Jesus name” for Jesus himself? After all our asking, will we ask for the very person and presence of the name in which we are asking? This will reveal our hearts. Do I just want the money for the mortgage or do I also want the provider of the money? Desperation can make prayer difficult in more than one way.

If we take God at his word and ask for anything in his name, it is surely right to also ask “for Him.” The text continues to say that this causes “our joy to be made full.” (John 16:24)

“I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” Jesus