23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
John 16:23-28
God Likes to Hear to Our Prayers
People usually like to listen to others praising them, there is nothing wrong with that, but many do not like to listen when others are asking them to do something.
In this passage, the word ask has two meanings, to ask a question and to pray. Some people do not like others asking them questions not to mention asking them to do something. Here Jesus told the disciples that The Father Likes to listen to our prayers because:
- We love Jesus.
- We believe in Jesus.
- The end result of these is that we are children of God, and therefore he likes to help us.
Have you ever had the experience that you are happy when someone asks for your help? Usually, this is someone that you love and you are eager to show your love by helping them.
When God listens to our prayers our joy will be full (v. 24), this is not because we got what we ask but because we know our place in His heart. On the other hand, when He declined our prayers, it was not because He no longer loves us, He already has and nothing can change that, it was because He has something better for us.
Raisins & Apples Bible Devotional & more 