Abiding = Answered Prayers

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If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  (John 15:7)

I want to be here; how about you?!  So close to Jesus, his words such a part of me, that his will is my will.  That my prayers are pleasing and answered with a hearty yes, again and again.

I want to care about the things that Jesus cares about.  Long for the things that Jesus longs for. Be broken by the things that break Jesus’ heart.  I want to resist sin the way Jesus did, even to the point of personal pain.  I want to treasure Jesus and his words above all else – above the opinions of men, entertainment, personal comfort, and security.  Above all!  I want to know Jesus as my closest friend.  How about you?

We can, you know.  God promises that if we draw near to him he will draw near to us  (James 4:8).  Jesus is not looking for impressive people to follow him.  He is looking for people humble in spirit and willing to abide in him, who know that they are nothing without him.  Who depend on him in quiet trust.  Daniel, Esther, David, Mary, the Disciples, Paul all lived lives of abiding in God and his word.  Because they abided in him, they desired the very things he desires and God heard their prayers and was pleased to answer yes.

We are humbled as we are told in scripture why, often, we do not receive what we ask for in prayer.

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.  (James 4:3)

Oh, that it would not be like that any more!  May God help us abide in Christ and his words completely.  So much so, that our hearts would be so in sync with God’s that we would only desire the things he desires.  That we would turn completely from those things that pull us away from him.  Whatever they might be!  That we would be desperate to know what pleases God, so that we might please him.  That we would only would want to ask in prayer for those things that would bring him Glory.  That our eyes would no longer be focused on our own selfish desires, but filled with the holy desires of our holy Father in heaven.  May God help us abide in his perfect Son and his words!  May God help us desire the things he desires!


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