Today is Christmas...a day when kids see if what they asked for comes true.
Have you ever thought about how sometimes our prayers sound like a Christmas wish list?
On a similar note, have you ever wondered why Jesus performed miracles in some places, but not in others?
In Matthew 13:58 it says, "Now Jesus did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief."
Oh, my. It actually says that unbelief can keep God's mighty works away.
In Matthew 15:28, it says: "Then Jesus said to her, 'Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.' And her daughter was healed at that moment."
Wow! It's pretty clear that "great faith" has something to do with granted requests.
Adding to this, Jesus said in John 14:13: "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
It sounds like what this means is that our prayers need to be about glorifying God, and not about what we want.
Here's what these three texts look like in a mathematical equation:
FAITH + ASKING IN THE NAME OF JESUS + GOD GLORIFIED = MIGHTY WORKS & GRANTED REQUESTS
According to God's Word, in order for faith and asking to lead to granted requests, we have to let go of the answer we want, and submit, in faith, to asking for God to be glorified...
Scripture says that God is glorified by our faith.
Jesus also said in John 16:24: "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name."
What if, today, we were to ask God to show us what He wants us to pray for, instead of giving him a Christmas wish list?
What if we were to just ask, in faith, in the name of Jesus, for God to be glorified in whatever situation we are praying for, irregardless of the answer we really want?
Would that person be healed? Would there be resolution in that relationship?
Tough questions, but ones that really can't be answered directly, because praying the way Jesus wants us to pray means we really do have to let go of the answer we want.
What these scriptures are telling us is that we have to relearn how to pray. We also have to let go of any anger we hold toward God because we have assumed that He hasn't answered our prayers in the past.
Remember, in order for our prayers to lead to mighty works and granted requests, we have to ask in the name of Jesus, in faith, for God to be glorified. Period. Yes, this means our prayer request is for God to be glorified in our life and in the situation we are bringing to God...and then leave it to God to do what He says He'll do.
This kind of praying is not about the answer we want, but about what changes us on the inside.
This kind of praying is about letting our requests be known to God and then surrendering to Him, 100%, for Him to be glorified by us relinquishing, in faith, to His perfect timing, perfect will, and perfect way.
Are you ready to put your new faith-praying equation to a test question?
Here it is....
Would we get our prayers answered if, in whatever situation we are praying for, we were to ask for God to be glorified...asking in faith, in the name of Jesus, not concerned about the specific answer we want?
According to the prayer equation, YES!
FAITH + ASKING IN THE NAME OF JESUS + GOD GLORIFIED = MIGHTY WORKS & GRANTED REQUESTS
Now, go ahead and ask!
Merry Christmas!!!
Your Request is Granted
