Jesus (Jn 15) said that whatever I ask in His name would be given to me. Really? Has that been my experience? I’ve never been quite sure what that phrase really means. In diagnosing and dissecting it I may have talked myself into disbelieving it. However I notice it’s connected to bearing fruit – “I chose you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last – so that whatever you ask in my name…” Maybe I’m not experiencing the promise because I’m not living the premise – maybe I’m not bearing fruit and obeying as Jesus commands. So today I make a new commitment: to boldly pray and believe that what I ask for has been given, to act as if it has been given – and to keep praying until it is a visible, verifiable reality. And in that process God can confirm my asking, chastise me for it, or correct it until I am in agreement with his will. “Nevertheless, not my will but Thine be done.” Meanwhile I’ll try to be more concerned with bearing fruit than with how to get what I ask.

Lord, keep me alert to the opportunities you put before me this day. Amen.