Because You Use My Name...
sandy willoughby
"At that time you won't need to ask me for anything, for you can go directly to the Father and ask Him, and He will give you what you ask for because you use My Name. You haven't tried this before, [but begin now]. Ask, using My Name, and you will receive, and your cup of joy will overflow." John 16:23-24 TLB
Precious Ones in Christ Jesus, our Lord,
His Word is the most beautiful thing in our lives... it is the highest and best of all gifts. We read this Word and a light shines into our souls...His breathed Word, His living Word rushes through us and we are never the same. This happens EVERY single time we read one Word or entire books/chapters. Doesn't it amaze us at how that could be? It is confounding but true... His Word is never futile or without a change, a hope, a gift for the heart and soul of man and woman.
In His Word, He tells us that we can go to the Father and ask for anything in His Name. We are instructed to use the Name of Christ when we pray and when we ask we will receive. Jesus doesn't say we will receive exactly WHAT we are praying FOR... but He says we WILL receive. It won't be null and void... we won't leave empty handed but more importantly, we won't walk away empty hearted. We will receive. When we receive what He pours in and through us, our cup of joy will overflow.
There are other mentions in the Bible related to overflowing cups. One that I love is: "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." Psalm 23:5 KJV
The point is... when we pray and we ask and we go to the Father in the Name and by the power of the SON... we receive and our cup runneth over.
I often wonder at what God thinks... what His thoughts are when dealing with us... His wayward children. When He openly states in His Word to ask Him and watch as He fills our vessels to overflowing and we hold up tiny teacups for Him to fill... knowing we would walk away amazed and astounded if there was a drop in there from God. I think He might call out for us to come back and hand Him our teacups so that we can hold the pitcher with both hands He pours joy into.
"And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:23-24 KJV
Ask the Father in the Name of Jesus. The Father will give it to us. When we are struggling for a quiet time with Him but can't seem to make room for it, can't seem to work up a desire for it, or just cannot make it happen... we ASK the Father in the Name of Jesus and He will give it to us. When we are not loving enough with our husbands, children, or those around and in our lives... we can ask and He will give us that love. When we are fighting for enough time to get it all done and house work is piling up around us driving us crazy... all we must do is look up from all we are doing on this earth to heaven. We ask Him and He answers. We ask Him and we receive.
Are we as Jesus mentioned above... are we not having because we haven't been asking? Do we forget to ask? Feel guilty over sins and don't believe we have the "right" to ask for more? We must change that and we are changed by reading His Word. We are changed and our situations are changed when we ask the Father in the Name of Jesus. When we ask and we receive... our joy will be full.
When our joy is full anger won't have the same control over us and even if anger comes it will be short lived. When we are "JOY-FULL" our dealings with others will be more like God would have them be, our work will be more productive and our time better managed. Being filled with joy is a very healthy state to be in and it will affect every area of our lives. When the joy is surely lacking in our lives... that shows up, too. We see it in our moods, in our homes, with our family members, and in the lack of happiness and peace.
May we ask of Him that we might receive. May we ask and when we ask ~ know in full confidence that we will receive what He longs to give us. Oh, that we will remember at all times that our every need can be fulfilled if we go to Him in prayer and ask. He gives and we receive --- He lives and we believe!
In Loving Prayers for Your Abundant Joy,
Sandy:)
