In Whose Name Do I Ask?

"You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." (John 14:14)

This is a mighty promise from the Lord to be sure. Can you imagine all the things we could be asking Him for? My flesh responds, "Fame, Riches, Popularity. Lord give me those things in your name!!" Is that what the Lord means?

When we ask for something in the name of Jesus it should be coming from the Holy Spirit that resides within us rather than from our self-aggrandizing desires. Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" God describes our hearts (our fleshly desires) as deceitful above all things. Is it any wonder that we gravitate so constantly to sins like gossip, haughtiness, greed, lying, lust, promiscuity, and stealing to name a few?

We may pray for fame, riches and popularity and attach the name of Jesus to these desires, but they aren't emanating from Him. They're coming from our own desperately wicked hearts. The fact that we ask for them and say the actual name of Jesus doesn't mean that they are coming from His Spirit. Consequently, He will not answer them because they do not truly have the seal of God on them. Rather those prayers have the stench of fleshly wickedness (this is not to say that we do not have legitimate needs - food, clothing, shelter, and protection should be asked for in the name of Jesus - I'm talking about the truly selfish desires which go above and beyond need).

Am I saying that God doesn't want us to be famous, rich, or popular? No, not at all. That may be a natural by-product of any faithful Christian's life. Rather, I am simply saying that God doesn't value that because once those things become our goals, we will encounter strong temptations to compromise on sin to achieve or maintain them. Is it curious that God will expose the sins of Christians who have strayed into secret sin? These divine exposes utterly destroy all the false walls of fame, riches or popularity that these individuals had hid behind. Their reputations and that of Christians in general are often left in shambles. Why would God allow that?

It is because He doesn't care a whit for those worldly measures of success. Success in the Lord is being obedient to Him, and following His ways. He would rather save the wayward soul and incur a public scandal that seems to smear the name of His church (think Ted Haggard, Jim Bakker), than to leave that soul living a lie and risking the eternal fires of hell. If people mock the church because of these public scandals, so be it. God does not care about reputations or man's mockery. He wants to reclaim these wayward saints and build them up once again into strong Christians. God is that good - that selfless and loving.

Getting back to the original topic, I know that I ask many selfish prayers, but my desire is to conform my heart to His - that I may begin to pray prayers that truly bear the heart and name of Jesus. That I will pray prayers that are mighty in the Lord and those that He will bless and answer. Lord Jesus, may I be your tool and vessel through my prayers. You know our hearts well - may You find mine pleasing to Your sight and conformed to Your ways. Do whatever You need to do to change me into Your spitting image. Thank You for Your daily love and provision. I know You will always be faithful to me and my house as we worship You and You alone. In Jesus' name, Amen.