If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you (John 15:7).
But what shall we ask? There is a story of an old Bible woman in Leicester, England, whose custom it was to carry flowers to the hospital and to talk with the patients, the nurses, and even the doctors about religion, about the Lord and His work. One day one of the doctors asked her, "Do you believe God really hears our prayers? I'm hard up. If I asked Him, would He send me five pounds?"
The old saint answered, "If you were introduced to the prince of Wales, would you immediately put your hand into his pocket?"
"No," replied the doctor, "not until I knew him better."
Then the Bible woman said, "You will need to be a great deal better acquainted with God before you can expect such an answer as you wish."
Notice the promise is that if we abide in Christ, we may ask what we will. This promise is taken from our Savior's description of the believer as a branch abiding in Him, the True Vine. If we are abiding in the Vine and partaking of His nourishment and life, then we shall pray according to His will, and whatsoever we ask shall be done unto us. We are to abide in Christ's love as Christ abides in the Father's love (John 15:10).
This abiding in Christ is not only a glorious privilege but an apostolic command. "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming" (1 John 2:28). We abide in Him when His words abide in us. Those who are "in Christ" feed upon the Word of Christ. Their prayers are according to His will; therefore, they are answered. Let us seek to abide in Him. Let us seek His Word; let us seek His will. Then we shall know better how to pray, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips" (Ps. 21:12).
But what shall we ask? There is a story of an old Bible woman in Leicester, England, whose custom it was to carry flowers to the hospital and to talk with the patients, the nurses, and even the doctors about religion, about the Lord and His work. One day one of the doctors asked her, "Do you believe God really hears our prayers? I'm hard up. If I asked Him, would He send me five pounds?"
The old saint answered, "If you were introduced to the prince of Wales, would you immediately put your hand into his pocket?"
"No," replied the doctor, "not until I knew him better."
Then the Bible woman said, "You will need to be a great deal better acquainted with God before you can expect such an answer as you wish."
Notice the promise is that if we abide in Christ, we may ask what we will. This promise is taken from our Savior's description of the believer as a branch abiding in Him, the True Vine. If we are abiding in the Vine and partaking of His nourishment and life, then we shall pray according to His will, and whatsoever we ask shall be done unto us. We are to abide in Christ's love as Christ abides in the Father's love (John 15:10).
This abiding in Christ is not only a glorious privilege but an apostolic command. "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming" (1 John 2:28). We abide in Him when His words abide in us. Those who are "in Christ" feed upon the Word of Christ. Their prayers are according to His will; therefore, they are answered. Let us seek to abide in Him. Let us seek His Word; let us seek His will. Then we shall know better how to pray, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips" (Ps. 21:12).
RSS Feed
