Recently, I have had a scripture on my mind…
“But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted.” (Jn 15:7 NLT)
While many of us are familiar with this scripture, I wonder if we have ever really meditated on the fullness of it. I imagine many of us skip to the “you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted part.”
We all love to have our prayers answered. I know I do. However, this scripture, as with many other scriptures, reveals to us the conditions of the promise.
You may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted…if you remain in God and His word remains in you.
That’s the condition, and you can’t have one without the other.
Let’s look at it in a couple more translations.
John 15:5-8 in the Message says it this way; “I am the Vine; you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.”
Now in the Amplified, “I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for, otherwise, apart from Me, that is, cut off from vital union with Me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a broken off branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My, true, disciples.”
From both translations, we see that the abiding in God part is vital.
To abide means to dwell, rest and continue, to continue permanently in the same state, firm, fixed and immovable.
Are you abiding in God? Are you dwelling in His presence? Are you resting in Him? Are you permanently fixed, firm and immovable in His presence…in Him?
Does His word abide in you? Is the word of God your response to every challenge that comes your way? Is His word in you more powerful and stable than anything that comes against you? Is it the firm foundation of your life? Is it the first thing, or the last thing that comes out of your mouth?
If the answer is yes, you have every right to ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.
If you are not too sure, it’s an easy fix.
Purpose in your heart and mind to spend time with God. Ask God to teach you how to abide in Him. Make time for Him. Put Him first. Abide in Him. Rest in Him. Dwell in Him. Fix your heart and mind on Him.
Meditate on His word day and night. Allow His word to become the final say in every situation you encounter. Fill your heart so greatly with the word of God that it continually comes out of your mouth.
John 16:24 says; Until now you have not asked the Father for anything in My name; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be full and complete. (AMPC)
It was the hope of Jesus and the plan of God, that we would be a people who would ask and receive, that our joy would be full. This scripture in John 15:7 is showing us how to do just that. By abiding in Him and allowing His word to abide in us.
