What Jesus promises here insight and
direction through the work of the Spirit within us. Jesus does not
promise that we will receive whatever we might think we need. As the
Holy Spirit directs our hearts, we will desire those things that will
benefit us spiritually. We can have faith to see those things
accomplished as the fulfillment of his promise.
Matthew
7:7-8 and Luke 11:9-13
"Ask and it
will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be
opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds;
and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
What Jesus
promises here is insight and direction through the work of the Spirit
within us. Jesus does not promise that we will receive whatever we
might think we need. As the Holy Spirit directs our hearts, we will
desire those things that will benefit us spiritually. We can
have faith to see those things accomplished as the fulfillment of
his promise.
Can
we ask for whatever we want?John
15:7
"If you
remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it
will be given you."
Jesus was not
promising to give us whatever we want. What he did promise was
that he would answer the prayers of obedient believers whose requests
arise from a healthy relationship with him. As long as we remain in
him and his words remain in us, our desires will be consistent with is
will. Praying in his name (John 16), then, refers to requests
in line with what Christ would want. Such prayers reflect total
dependence on him.
Can
we get anything we ask for in prayer?
1
John 3:21-22
Dear
friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God
and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do
what pleases him.
God is not
obligated to grant endless wishes because we hold him to his
promises. When our desires line with his desires...when we
obey...and do what pleases him...then we can be sure that God will answer
our prayers (see 1 John 5:14). The Bible also tells why many prayers
are not granted. See: When does God refuse to hear our
prayers! Jeremiah 11:11
Matthew 6:8
Prayer was never intended to
inform God of something he doesn't know. The point of prayer isn't
merely to get what we want but to nurture our relationship with God. As a
result, prayer can change us rather than the situation, reinforcing our
confidence in our God's sufficiency and realigning our will with his will.
On the other hand. God invites us to involve ourselves in his work by
praying. He tells us that we lack what we need because we fail to
pray: You do not have, because you do not ask God (James 4:2).
When it seems that answers to prayer are slow in coming. Jesus urges us to
keep on praying and not give up (Luke 18:1-8).
