Truth #251 - When our hearts are like His heart He answers our prayers - John 13-15

John 15:7-8
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Truth:  When we are engulfed in His Word we want and ask Him for what He wants!

A portion of the above text has been taken out of context so frequently.   We read, "... ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you," and we walk into God's throne room thinking God is our magic Jennie ... three or more wishes each time we ask.   There is NO doubt that God has given us many promises to come to Him and to ask Him for the desires on our heart.  Note in Psalm what the writer tells us:

Psalms 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

But, this text, and the others, is not a "one-stop-shopping-groupon" for people of faith.   The text is telling us that our "abiding" in Christ is a pre-requisite for our coming to Christ.  When we abide in Christ we develop desires that are His desires.   It is then that we ask whatever we want (His desires) and He gives them to us.  Notice how verse eight adds further meaning to this thought:   "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples."   That verse CANNOT be separated from the previous verse.   Christ is telling us that "if we abide" in Him our desires will be for the producing of Godly fruit in our lives and bringing glory to God.   My prayer life needs to be guided by that thought.   When I come to God I need to ask, "Am I asking for something that brings glory to Him, or comfort to me?"    When His "words abide in you" we are a changed people.  We are not to be like children coming to a fake Santa in the mall.  We are not to be governed by our sensual emotions and fleshy motivations.   We can come to God in full assurance of faith that He will give us what we ask, WHEN and IF we come to Him ABIDING in Him and having His WORDS ABIDE in us.   When we immerse ourselves in His Word our inward motivations, wants, desires and thoughts are all changed.  A few verse earlier Christ states the following about this thought:

John 15:3
Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

Note what Paul says about this inward change happening in those who are abiding in Christ:

2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

We are being sanctified through faith in the truth ... His Word.    So, our prayer life is regenerated by our faith in the truth.  It is then and only then that we can come to Him and know that He will give us the desires of our heart.