Power in Abiding (John 15:7)

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you - John 15:7

What an amazing promise this is. It may even sound too good to be true. This is, in fact, why we should be confident that it is a promise of God.

No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined the things God has prepared for those who love Him.

This indeed is God's promise to us: that if we abide in Him, and His words abide in us, we shall be able to ask whatever we wish and it will be done.

If we have asked and not received - there are only two possible reasons. Either the Word of God has failed, or else we have failed to abide.

We often focus more on the asking than we do the abiding. We think that if we can say the right string of words, then we will be able to compel God to do something. This bears more resemblance to witchcraft than Christianity.

Jesus tells us that our Father knows what we need before we ask. He doesn't need us to say certain words in order to trigger a spiritual reaction; He wants us to come into alignment with His will. Our main job is not to ask the right things, but to abide in Christ. Only when we abide will we know what we are supposed to ask.

As we abide, our minds will be flooded with the wisdom of God. Our words will begin to harmonize with God's Word.

And when our words mirror His, what can hinder their fulfillment?

I don’t speak on my own authority.

The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say

and how to say it

John 12:49