If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7 NKJV).
In the passage above, Jesus gave two conditions or keys to receiving answers to our prayers. We need to abide in Him and His words abide in us. The psalmist David rightly said, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105 KJV). The Word of God is alive and powerful and in it we find everything we need for our daily living. The Hebrews writer taught, “The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 KJV). As we study God’s words, meditate on them, digest them and allow them to abide in our hearts, they come alive in us, show us ourselves as we really are, convict us of sins, cleanse us, reveal God to us, deepen our joys and greatly enrich our lives.
The Word of God gives wisdom, knowledge and understanding and illuminates our path so that we may see clearly. It is like a road map to which we may go at any time for direction. In it we find answers for every situation known to man. It is the guide given to us by God to show us the way to life, to teach us everything we need to know about Him and how to live in this present world. As we study the word our faith increases as we learn to trust in God and in His faithfulness to fulfill all of the rich promises that He made to all those who love and obey Him.
Jesus taught that if we abide in Him and His words abide in us, whatever we ask for, He will give it to us. Psalm 37:4 tells us clearly, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” To delight ourselves in the Lord or to abide in Jesus simply means living in the presence of God all day long every day and night, loving Him, worshipping Him, adoring Him, obeying His Word and inwardly gazing upon Him with awe and wonder. It means eagerly seeking Him out each day and studying His words to learn more about Him and how to please Him in everything we do.
When we delight in God we do not leave Him behind when we go to work or school or when we hang out with our friends, but we take Him with us everywhere we go. We invite Him to be a part of our daily lives and we consult with Him continually throughout the day. We allow His character to shine through us as we conduct business and interact with others. We allow His principles to guide our thoughts and our actions and we live with integrity—that is, we are open, honest and trustworthy in everything we do.
When we delight in Jesus, we are devoted and loyal to Him. We hate what He hates and we love what He loves. If we love God and obey Him in all things He will fellowship with us and will reveal Himself to us in a greater way. If we live for Him every day and continually strive to be like Him in character, when we call upon Him, He will hear us and answer us and our joys will know no bounds. Jesus said to His disciples, who were in constant fellowship with him each day, “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24 NKJV).
Each time I ask God for something and receive the answer to my prayer, I become very ecstatic, my heart sings for joy and I stand in awe of Him! I am continually amazed by His love, His grace, His mercy, His goodness, His wisdom, His power and His majesty! For some practical examples of these answered prayers, read my new book, Beholding His Glory. “…If we know that he hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:15 NIV). If we don’t fellowship with Jesus, we will not know Him. If we don’t know Him, then we will have no confidence that He hears us or that He will answer our prayers. If we delight in Him however, we know that He hears us and will answer us when we pray. It is His good pleasure to grant us the desires of our hearts!
Don’t forget to give God thanks and to spend time with Him when you are happy and everything is going well in your life. If you only remember God when you are in trouble and need His help but ignore Him the rest of the time, chances are you are not going to receive the answer to your prayer. All good things around us come from God above. He provides generously for everyone, the just as well as the unjust. However, those who are devoted and faithful to Him will walk continually in His blessings and when they call upon Him, He will quickly answer.
God rewards faithfulness. Jesus said that if you abide in Him and His words abide in you, whatever you ask for, He will give it to you. There are certain conditions that you need to meet in order to receive answers to your prayers. You need to abide in Jesus and let His words abide in you. You need to know Jesus and fellowship with Him daily! It is not too late for you to start working on building your prayer life and a personal relationship with Jesus. Right now would be a good time to start.
There are times when you will need to wait to receive the answer to your prayers. It is important to wait on God’s perfect timing and to continue to stand in faith while you wait. “This is what the LORD says: “At just the right time, I will respond to you” (Isaiah 49:8 NLT). You cannot hasten God’s perfect timing. There is a time and a season appointed by God for everything. You will need to wait patiently for God’s timing and trust in His faithfulness to do what is best for you. Do not get discouraged when situations get really tough and you cannot see your way out. Keep on praying and when you can’t find words to express how you feel, simply groan in your spirit. God searches the hearts and He knows what you need even before you ask.
“…They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 KJV). Wait for as long as it takes. Don’t be in a hurry because you will miss out on the great blessings that God has in store for you. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).
