But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! John‬ ‭15‬:‭7‬

“Prayer Doesn’t Work! I prayed for my grandma and she died anyway.”

“I prayed about that job but didn’t get it”

“I prayed that relationship would work but it didn’t.”

One of the reasons many leave the faith, doubt God, or fail to believe in the power of prayer in their lives is because of “unanswered prayer” and God’s seeming inability to fulfill his promises.

John 15:7 is often quoted, or should I say MISquoted, as proof. However, if you read the whole verse in its context you’ll see that the emphasis isn’t on getting what we want at all! The emphasis is on abiding.

Charles Spurgeon writes, “If you want that splendid power in prayer, you must remain in loving, living, lasting, conscious, practical, abiding union with the Lord Jesus Christ.”

When we are one in heart and mind with Jesus our desires become his desires. Our ‘wants’ become His wants. Our focus is on the Kingdom not on earthly passions.

Does that mean that God is not interested in providing us with good relationships, good jobs, and a happy life? Of course not! Jeremiah tells us he has a wonderful plan for our life. But it’s a matter of priorities. Jesus says “seek first, the kingdom of God, and then all these things will be added to us.”

I dare say many if not all of our “unanswered prayers” are self-focused prayers, not abiding prayers.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I confess to you that often my prayers are for my own good, and not for the good of the kingdom. I don’t see things as you see them. My ways are not your ways. Help me to learn to abide in you so that when I pray, my prayers are kingdom-focused and not self-focused. In your name I pray, amen.