God always answers prayer. Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes it’s no, sometimes it’s wait.

I’m sure you’ve heard this a time or two, maybe you’ve said it once or twice. Maybe you’re like me and have whole-heartedly believed it. It makes sense right? Especially if you are a believer who has had prayers go seemingly unanswered. So what, then, do we do with promises like this?

“If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:14 NKJV)

…ANYTHING… in My name… I WILL do it…

I don’t know about you, but that throws a big ole wrench in my original belief. I pause and go, wait God, what about the time you didn’t answer this prayer or that one. Or the time I really wanted this and You didn’t give it to me. What about all those times You would not do it.

If this verse of the Bible is true (and I believe that every verse of the Bible is true), then God shouldn’t answer with a no, He’ll do what I ask… right?

Right?

Am I right? Do I just need to add the little three magic words in Jesus name and I’ll get anything I want, anything I need, anything I ask for? Well when I put it that way… no, that doesn’t seem right, does it? So what am I missing? What am I failing to see? What am I just not getting?

So I pause. And pray. And go back to the Word. Lord, please show me what I am missing… in Your name I pray. Amen.

And there is it, a simple little phrase that I have read over but missed countless times.

…that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13b)

Not only did Jesus promise to do what we ask, but He promised that we would do greater works than even He did (John 14:12) as long as we asked with one specific purpose: to glorify the Father.

This is a huge revelation to me, because asking “in Jesus name” isn’t just adding three little magic words to the end of a prayer, it changes the whole meaning of our prayer. Asking “in Jesus name” is asking that your prayer be answered so that I and others may see the greatness of God — that His goodness, His grace, and His glory may be, not just seen, but known.

I have prayed numerous prayers. Many for my own comfort or well-being. I’ve asked for protection, healing, and provision for myself and for others. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with me asking for these things. God wants me to bring my requests to Him. But I must ask myself this question:

Why do I pray?

Do I petition the Lord out of a desire to see Him glorified? Do I want others to see how awesome the Lord is? Do I want non-believers to believe? Do I want the gospel message to go out?

You see, I am slowly… very slowly… beginning to realize that every situation and every circumstance can be used in a way “that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” Whether it is through job loss or lost keys, whether it is through marital disaster or a disastrous diaper, whether it’s through a financial storm or the hurricane that hit my kids’ rooms…

…the Lord can be glorified.

I just need to remember to ask for it.

Lord in Heaven, thank You that every situation, every circumstance, every moment can be used for Your glory. Help me to remember this and ask for it. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Friends,

Please remember that I am human and flawed and my thoughts on this passage and others may not always be right. Please hold what I write up against the Word of God and listen to Holy Spirit as He speaks to you directly.

Only by grace,

Kelli