The Simple Things: Ask
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”
John 15:7
Ladies, there’s that word remain again; only this time it’s coupled with an invitation to ask. Not just to ask though—to ask whatever you wish. Seems simple. I’m more than willing to ask for what I wish; but not so fast—lots of hidden innuendo in Jesus’ words.
Remaining in Christ is crucial. If we remain, His words become the parameters for our requests. Asking willy-nilly to satisfy our wants is not the aim of prayer. After all, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8).
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest August 6, clarifies: “The idea of prayer is not in order to get answers from God; prayer is perfect and complete oneness with God.” Jesus is asking us to sync whatever we wish with the will of the Father.
Yet we are free to ask, to beg even, as Jesus did in the agony of Gethsemane: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Mathew 26:39). It all gets down to the big picture will of God.
We would do well to ask our Father in heaven, as Jesus says we should in the template we know as the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13, MSG), to:
Reveal who you are
Set the world right
Do what’s best—as above, so below
Keep us alive with three square meals
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others
Keep us safe from ourselves and the devil
It’s that simple. Ask in the words of Jesus as you remain in Him—to the glory of God. Soli Deo Gloria!
Nancy P
