ALIGNING TO THE WILL OF GOD
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
John 16:24 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
If we are to receive the supply for our needs Jesus instructs us to ask. He gives us a promise that “you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.”
The promise always comes with a premise. God chooses to act when we act. God started the process when Jesus came to earth to die on the cross and restore the broken relationship between God and man. Our responsibility is to believe in God’s plan of salvation, confess our sins, and walk away from sinful behavior.
This makes us a follower of Christ. As followers of Christ God wants us to be full of abundant joy. Why? Because joyful Christians are the best advertisement for the Christian life. No one wants to be a part of a religious experience that produces sad, depressed, followers.
Our loving God invites us to ask Him for what we need. He instructs us to “ask, using my name.” I do not believe this teaches us that the name of Jesus is some kind of magic word. Some people use the name of Jesus in their prayers as if it was a magic word to get the doors to heaven’s vault open to supply their every greed.
I believe I am asking in “Jesus’ name” when I pray in agreement with His will and desires for my life. I can’t use the name of Jesus as a magic charm. I must be willing to align my life with God’s ways and will. I must put His will ahead of my want.
Surrendering my prayers to the will of God is crucial to effective praying. Sometimes our prayers seem like we are giving God His “to do” list that needs to be met by next Tuesday. We must remind ourselves that He is God, and we are not. He is not our servant or slave that we order around.
I get discouraged by some preachers who seem to treat God as if He were their slave to do whatever they demand in the name of Jesus. When I have spent time in God’s presence to determine His will and desires then I can use the name of Jesus to rebuke the forces of hell that are trying to interfere with God’s plan.
The only authority I have is delegated authority. My authority is not based on my righteousness or holiness. God doesn’t owe me anything. I am a sinner saved by grace through my faith in the work of Jesus. My authority is based on Jesus’ work on the cross to defeat Satan and prove that by rising from the dead.
Because of the triumph of Jesus, I can boldly come to the altar of God and ask in the name of Jesus for God’s kingdom to come and will to be done in my life, my family, my physical body, my marriage, my children, my grandchildren, my church, and my community. I can be bold when I am in alignment with God’s will.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit please help me to be sure my life is in alignment with God’s will. Give me boldness in my prayers to declare God’s will over my circumstances. Help me to ask and believe for Your kingdom to come and will to be done in my world.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”
Lord I ask that your will always be done . I will Ask accordingly .