| Photo by Matthew de Livera on Unsplash
In John 14-16, we see that Jesus promises the Holy Spirit because He is going back to the Father. Jesus tells us, I am going to send you the Holy Spirit to live in you and to empower you to be a follower of Christ.
What difference does the Holy Spirit make? In John 14:12-14, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask anything in My name, and I will do it, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask Me for anything in My Name, and I will do it.”
What comes to mind when we hear these words? “Yes, ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.” We think that Jesus is saying, I can ask for anything (material things, bigger and better things, a happy life, no more problems, etc.), and that is what the Lord is going to give us?
Jesus will answer our prayers when it brings glory to God. Remember God’s priority for our lives is not to make us happy, but to make us Godly! His plan for our lives is to make us more like Jesus. How many things that we ask for in prayer are to make us happy or to make us Godly? We may or may not get things in life that make us happy! But Jesus will always answer our prayers if our goal is to make us Godly!
Today, help my prayers to be more Godly, and not just to be happy! Help me desire to be more like Jesus! That is a prayer that Jesus will always answer!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pastor Ronald Squibb has been the International Christian Center (ICC) Lead Senior Pastor at Staten Island, New York, since 2011. He draws on many experiences from his over 40 years as a pastor and from significant emotional experiences.
His new book, Following the Journey with Jesus, which he co-authored with Daniel McNaughton, was recently published and is receiving rave reviews. The daily devotion appears in this publication.
