January 23, 2025

WHEN YOU ASK USING JESUS’ NAME

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

John 16:23-24 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

Let’s suppose that you become friends with a very wealthy individual. They like you and give you their personal credit card to use. You take trips, make donations to organizations, and even purchase yourself a new truck. Having that credit card is so much fun you take the entire family on a shopping trip for new clothes. You even throw a big party for all your friends.

Then the bill comes in and your friend comes to meet with you. When they gave you the card to use, they gave you certain values that they wanted you to follow when you used the card. They wanted a certain portion of your spending to be to help people in need—but you spent everything on yourself. Your use of their card didn’t match the values they gave you in the beginning. You lose the card. 

This is basically what Jesus has done for us by inviting us to use the authority of His name in our times of prayer. We have the privilege to speak the name of Jesus to receive answers to prayer. But the catch is our prayers must be in line with His values. 

Prayer should never be selfish request to feed our greed, lust, or fleshly desires. Imagine three guys about to rob a bank and they pause to pray, “In Jesus name we ask the angels of God to protect us as we rob this bank and make our efforts successful.” 

As ridiculous as that sounds I wonder how many of our prayers sound that way to our Heavenly Father. He has given us the authority of His name to transform our lives, family, community, and world. are we praying prayers that align with His values?

It is important to remember, “Fasting is not an end in itself; it is a means by which we can worship the Lord and submit ourselves in humility to Him…{Fasting} invites God into the problem. Then in the strength of God, victory is possible.” – Elmer Towns 

Fasting is our way of getting past our selfishness. We are disciplining our flesh to get into better alignment with the will of our Heavenly Father. Our alignment will be reflected in our prayers.

Here is a thought, “If God answered every one of your prayers today how would your world be different tomorrow?”

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I come in Jesus’ name before Your throne today. I ask Your kingdom to come and will to be done in my world. Direct me today to speak Your will into my world. Help me to know Your will in every area of my life.

“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”