LEARNING DAILY

 

John 16:23b-24, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.  Until now you have asked nothing in My name.  Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”  Jesus

 

Be careful!  Don’t ask for selfish things or things that build you up because praying this way does not work.  Okay, I’m guilty; I have tried it.  For those of you chuckling right now – are you chuckling because I tried or because you have tried as well?

 

Prayer is sometimes a mystery to me because I have not understood its power.  I have seen God move in a great way when I have prayed.  He has moved immediately at times and at other times seems to have completely ignored me.  I know the latter is not so because the Bible tells us that God cares deeply about our prayers.  In Daniel 9:23, Daniel prayed and the angel Gabriel was sent to him to interpret a vision.  He was told, At the beginning of your supplications, the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly loved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision.”  But, in Daniel 10, Daniel prayed for 23 days before the angel was able to get to him with his answer.  In Daniel 10:12, the angel said to him, “Do not fear, Daniel. For from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard and I have come because of your words.” So why did it take twenty-four days for Gabriel to get there?  He was delayed by the demonic forces over Babylon and Michael, the chief of princes, was needed to come help him get to Daniel.  We are totally unaware of the spiritual battles going on in the heavenlies when we pray! 

 

The note in David Jeremiah’s Study Bible gives further help. “The power of prayer is in the name of Jesus Christ. Praying in His name is not a tagline at the end of one’s prayers; it means praying according to His will.  Keeping Jesus in focus keeps people from selfish prayers.  The result of a Christ-empowered prayer is that a person’s joy will be full.”  When we pray in the name of Jesus, our Mediator, we gain access to the Father.  The sacrifice of Jesus is recognized, we ask according to His righteousness; that is how prayer is answered.

 

There is no question about this – God hears our prayers, encourages us to pray about everything, to pray without ceasing!  I pray that our faith would grow deep in our love for God and to be unwavering.  I pray our focus be always on Jesus and not the problem.

 

But what about when the Father does not answer our prayer?

 

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