learning DAILY



John 15:7-8, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you will be My disciples.”

I am sure you had a favorite teacher or coach or another school official that really made an impression or made a difference in your life.  I did.  Perhaps it was because I knew he really cared and was going to tell me when I did something wrong; or because he was the first in line to pat me on the back.  I studied him to the point that I recognize many of my mannerisms were his.

My goal is for you to understand the importance of “abiding in Christ”.  “As a Christian, you can enjoy a give-and-take with God.  His words abide in them and their branches abide in Him.  A natural outgrowth of this abiding relationship is prayer” (taken from the Jeremiah Study Bible).  The secret of answered prayer is remaining in Christ.

The way to walk more closely with Christ is to spend time in prayer, fasting, worship, meditation and study of the Scriptures.   In doing so, we start to think like, talk, act like who we have studied for so long.  This becomes really important as we begin to pray and to “ask”.  No longer do we ask selfishly for things but pray according to the will of Christ.  When we desire the things Christ wants, it shall be done.   Our prayers become more effectual when they are in line with the nature and words of Christ.

Jesus also said in John 14:3, “And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”  He is not saying whatever you pray for you will get.  No, it is praying in agreement with His nature and His character and His will.  It means that Jesus will answer the prayer that He would have prayed Himself. 

The reason this kind of prayer is answered is “that My Father is glorified”.  I have a lot of my prayers not answered because I was going to get the glory.  No, prayer is answered when we abide in Christ and seek to glorify our Father who is in heaven. If your prayers are not effectual, check to see if you are praying for the Glory of God.  There is a difference between a good prayer and a prayer that glorifies God. 

John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (the Lord Jesus Christ).

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