In Jesus' Name

Repost from yesterday 8/16/11

"Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." - John 16:24 (NIV)

Ask and I will receive - Jesus couldn't be any clearer than that. He tells us to ask, for anything, in His name, and we will receive it. No matter how big or small our need, a mountain or a molehill, ask! At this point you may be saying, "I do ask but my prayers aren't being answered." and my questions to you are this: are you asking in faith and in Jesus' name? I always end my prayers in Jesus' name but I can tell you this...I don't always have faith that my prayers will be answered. In the back of my mind, there's this little voice (Satan) saying to me, "God won't answer this. You're not worthy to ask this of Him. What are you thinking?". There goes my faith, right out the window!! I always find it's easier to have faith that my prayers will be answered when they're for someone else. But when they're for me, well, that's when that little voice is really LOUD! And the bigger the need I'm praying for, the smaller my faith is that it will be answered. That is not what God wants. He wants me to have complete faith and trust in Him, in His Word, in His promises. God answers ALL prayers - some with a "Yes", some with a "No" and some with "Later". Looking back at some of the things I've prayed for, I see that God did answer my prayers, not always in the way I expected but always, always in the way that was best for me and that brought me closer to Him. My prayer now is that God give me the faith to believe and trust His promises and smother that voice that says I'm not good enough. And I am asking in Jesus' name.

Dear God, I will be a Christian who prays and trusts You in all matters, big or small. To have faith in Your promises and patience to wait for Your answers. Take away the small voice that mocks me and in it's place let me hear Your voice. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.