DAILY DEVOTIONAL: TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020
SCRIPTURE READING
John 15:7 (KJV) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Yesterday we learned what an if-then statement is. If the man is awake, then he is not asleep. Now, in this verse 7, the sentence begins with this word “if.” Yet the sentence doesn’t actually have the word “then” in it. Why not?
Because it’s to be understood. What we’re supposed to think as we read this verse is “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, [then] ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
In other words, our prayers being answered is conditional to our abiding in Jesus and Jesus’ words abiding in us. Get it?
So now, assuming we are fulfilling the first two conditions, we can depend upon God doing what we ask Him.
It’s something like Mommy saying to you, “If you put the chairs at each place and set the table, then as soon Daddy gets home we’ll be able to sit down and eat.”
God answers our prayers, but only when those prayers aren’t in opposition to His commands and will. So how do we make sure our prayers are not in opposition to His commands and will?
We abide in His Son, Jesus, and we make sure His Son’s words abide in us. Prayers of God’s people get a “yes” from God when we want what He wants. Does this make sense?
My grandson used to ask his Daddy if the family could go out for ice cream. When he asked, he knew he was on thin ice. He knew His Daddy was not inclined to take the family out for ice cream every time one of his children wanted to. So what did my grandson do to help his father take them out for ice cream?
He’d say, “Daddy, I think Mommy would really like us to go out for ice cream. Can we? Please?”
Smart kid, wasn’t he? He knew his Daddy likes to please his Mommy.
Do you see how this is similar to God answering our prayers if we are abiding in His Son and His Son’s words are abiding in us? Then our Heavenly Father will be pleasing His Son by saying “yes” to us.
Scripture: John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
QUESTIONS
- Is your Daddy more likely to say “yes” when you ask for something your Mommy wants, too?
- Is your Heavenly Father more likely to say “yes” when you ask for something Jesus wants, too?
- What could you ask your Heavenly Father for that you know Jesus wants, also?
SONG OF THE WEEK
Like a River Glorious
Like a river glorious
Is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious
In its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth
Fuller ev’ry day,
Perfect, yet it groweth
Deeper all the way.
Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blest,
Finding, as he promised,
Perfect peace and rest.
Hidden in the hollow
Of his blessed hand,
Never foe can follow,
Never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry,
Not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry
Touch the spirit there.
Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blest,
Finding, as he promised,
Perfect peace and rest.
Ev’ry joy or trial
Falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial
By the Sun of Love.
We may trust him fully
All for us to do;
They who trust him wholly
Find him wholly true.
Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blest,
Finding, as he promised,
Perfect peace and rest.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Dear Father, make Your words so to abide in me that when I pray my requests of You are squarely in accordance with Your will, that You may bring upon me all the good You have promised me in Christ. Amen.
OTHER PRAYER NEEDS
- Wisdom for Governor Holcomb this week as he makes key decisions
- God’s mercy upon our city, state, and nation
- Strength, compassion, and protection for healthcare workers caring for the sick and dying
SCRIPTURE MEMORY THIS WEEK
John 15:5-6 (KJV)
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
