Praying for What You Desire
How to Get Answers to Your Prayers
At the Last Supper Jesus told his disciples, “‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.’” (John 15:7-8 NIV) Many Christians believe that these words reveal the way to answered prayer.
Abide in Christ and His Word
In this key passage, Jesus compared himself to a vine and his followers to branches. Branches can’t live and thrive without vital connection to the main vine. Therefore, Christians believe that by abiding in Christ, continuing in him, enduring by faith, and remaining in close relationship with him, believers prepare to fulfill their purpose.
Part of abiding in the vine is letting the word of God remain within a believer. It's thought that reading, studying, and meditating on Scripture enriches the soil of the heart and provides a storehouse of wisdom from which God can speak to the believer. Colossians 3:16 admonishes, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” (NIV)
This relationship with Christ and reverence for his word help to mold the desires of the believer in line with God’s heart and plan.
Believers are Called to Bear Fruit
The purpose of a branch is to bear much fruit. Don Hooser, in “Christ’s Command to Us” from The Good News, affirms, “To produce the best fruit requires work, time, patience and perseverance (James 5:7-11).”
Good fruit to bear is the fruit of righteousness (James 3:18). Righteousness has to do with believing God enough to act on his word, as Abraham did (see James 2:21-26).
Getting Answers to Prayer is Being Fruitful
Christians believe that one way to bear fruit is to pray and as a result, one will receive answers to those prayers. Asking for what you want and getting it is being productive. Such fruitfulness glorifies the Father and demonstrates discipleship.
When believers abide in Christ and his words abide in them, Jesus frankly states that they can ask for whatever they want, promising that what they pray for will be granted.
“Ask” in John 15:7 is the Greek word aiteo, which means “to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require” (Strong’s Concordance, #G154). Asking, then, is not a passing mention in prayer. It’s a fervent expression of desire that requires an answer.
Backed by Jesus’ promise to provide, believers can call on God with confidence that he will grant their petition. In his daily devotional, The Word, Dick Mills explains that “...we can ‘requisition’ from heaven’s warehouse, knowing that when duly authorized by [Jesus’] signature (His name), our request will be honored and our need met.”
By abiding in Christ and dwelling on his word, believers align themselves with God’s desires. Christian believers pray ardently in his name, expecting a response, Jesus promises, “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:24 NIV).
Hands in Prayer
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