In John 16:23-24 I read, “Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." (NIV)
If I need something in my life healed or restored, I need to first humble myself and then admit I’m not in control. I can’t do it on my own!
Then ask God for help. How do I do that? “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face . . . then I will hear from heaven” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV).
I’m not waiting on God. He’s always been waiting on me! Whatever I’ve wanted restored in my life, I need to be praying about it. Have I asked God for that kind of help? He is waiting for me to ask. And he knows even better than I do what I need.
A lot of people know they should pray for healing in their mind or their body or their marriage. But they don’t know how to pray.
“Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:23-24 NIV).
That verse tells me how to pray for healing:
Remember Jesus wants me to ask. God wants me to ask for anything in prayer because that’s the only way I’m going to learn how to trust him.
Ask in Jesus’ name. In other words, ask on the basis of what Jesus did on the cross. He paid for everything I needed. There is power in Jesus’ name because it carries the full weight of God’s grace and redemptive love.
Keep on praying till God tells me to stop. Don’t pray one time and say, “Well, forget that.” Keep praying, believing God’s timing is perfect. God is responsible for the answer. I’m responsible to ask.
Joy does not come from getting what I ask God for. Joy comes in asking, believing, and thanking God, however he answers. Joy comes from trusting God to use my pain to make me more like him, knowing I will one day be fully restored with him in heaven.
Pray, remembering these three things. Even in my pain, God will give me more joy in the journey of following him than I could ever imagine!
In summary, the Father will give me whatever I ask in Jesus’ name. Ask and I'll receive, and your joy will be complete. If I need something healed or restored, I need to first humble myself and then admit I’m not in control. Then ask God for help. I’m not waiting on God. He’s always been waiting on me! He is waiting for me to ask. And he knows even better than I do what I need. Remember Jesus wants me to ask. God wants me to ask for anything in prayer because that’s the only way I’m going to learn how to trust him. Ask in Jesus’ name. Ask on the basis of what Jesus did on the cross. He paid for everything I needed. There is power in Jesus’ name because it carries the full weight of God’s grace and redemptive love. Keep on praying till God tells me to stop. Don’t pray one time and say, “Well, forget that.” Believe that God’s timing is perfect. God is responsible for the answer. I’m responsible to ask. Joy does not come from getting what I ask God for. Joy comes in asking, believing, and thanking God, however he answers. Joy comes from trusting God to use my pain to make me more like him, knowing I will one day be fully restored with him in heaven. Even in my pain, God will give me more joy in the journey of following him than I could ever imagine!
Jesus was talking about a new relationship between the believer and God. Previously, people approached God through priests. After Jesus' resurrection, any believer could approach God directly. A new day has dawned and now all believers are priests, talking with God personally and directly. I can approach God, not because of my own merit, but because Jesus, my great High Priest, has made me acceptable to God.
Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me.
Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives (including my job.) I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.
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