Believe -Expect -Receive

The season was nearly halfway over, and Pete Rose was on a hitting streak. A reporter asked for an interview following a painful loss. He said to Rose, “You need 78 hits to break Ty Cobb’s record. How many times at bat will you need to get 78 hits?” 

“Seventy-eight,” came his quick reply. 

“Come on,” said the reporter. “You don’t expect to get 78 hits in 78 times at bat, do you?” 

“Every time I step up to the plate,” said Rose, “I expect to get a hit! If I don’t expect to get a hit, I have no right to step in the batter’s box.”  

As he was in playing baseball, so ought we be in our prayer life! Every time we go to the Lord in prayer, we must learn to expect results. Otherwise, why pray? 

Jesus said, “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it for you so that the Father’s glory will be demonstrated through the Son.” Expecting results in prayer could not be explained more clearly or convincingly! If we ask in His name, He will grant our requests. 

The problem, then, seems to be if/or. If our prayers are not consistent with what is represented in the “name” Jesus, we cannot expect Him to grant our requests. To “ask in His name” means that our prayers are consistent with what and Who Jesus represented and what He taught His disciples. If, when I pray, I know that God cannot and will not be able to bless what I am asking for, and ultimately honor Him, I cannot expect Him to meet my prayers.  

Prayer:  Help us, Heavenly Father, to “ask in Your name” so that when we pray, in faith believing, we can expect Your blessings. May our prayers reflect Your will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Scripture For Today: You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. John 14:13

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