Creator, Father, King #178

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

DO YOU KNOW THE legend of Aladdin?

Perhaps you’re most familiar with the 1992 or 2019 Disney adaptations, where a Middle Eastern street urchin rises to fame and fortune as he tries to win the heart of a beautiful princess with the help of a magic genie in a lamp, who obediently grants his wishes.

Sadly, we often pray like God is our personal genie: God, I want this. God, I need that. God, please do this.

Likewise, many people have misinterpreted verses like Matthew 21:22, where Jesus says, “You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”

Rub a lamp! Make a wish! Have all your dreams come true . . . just like the legend of Aladdin!

But that’s not how prayer works. We need a higher view of God. We need to accurately interpret Scripture. We need a better understanding of prayer.

What’s It Mean?

God is not a magical genie trapped in a lamp, waiting to do our bidding. He is the Lord God Almighty, Ruler of heaven and earth, who created a perfect, sovereign plan for the universe in eternity past. He wants to hear from us, but he is not swayed by our selfish, myopic whims. Rather, he graciously calls us to be part of his infinitely greater Kingdom.

By God’s grace, our prayers can play an important role in this. Look at today’s verse. In it, Jesus tells his disciples that he chose them to “bear fruit” so that they might “abide,” or remain spiritually faithful, in him. Then whatever they asked “in [his] name,” they would receive.

In other words, when our heart’s desires are aligned with God’s and we are praying for his purposes in faith, he will answer our prayers. (This is also what Matthew 21:22, and other related verses, are referring to.)

Our prayers don’t manipulate God. When your life is united with his will, you’ll enjoy many answers to prayer and much spiritual fruit!

Now What?

Meditate on these prayer verses: Psalm 37:4; John 14:13; John 16:23-24; and 1 John 5:14-15.

Did You Know?

While understanding that God’s perfect, sovereign will is preeminent, there’s nothing wrong with praying for our needs—Jesus instructed this in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:11)—or even certain desires (“God, please heal my loved one,” etc.). See tomorrow’s devotion for more!