If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:14
The only way to increase effectiveness in praying is to ask. The best way to receive more answers to your prayers is to ask specifically.
Very simple – ask specifically!
Remember 14:14 and say it out loud, “14:14.” Easy to understand words by Jesus, but do you believe them? Ask anything in my name and I will do it. A simple verse – in the Greek “anything” means “anything.” Also “ask” means “ask” and “I will do it” means “I will do it.”
John 14:14!
But do you know how to ask? You must ask specifically. General praying of “Lord, bless me” or “God, help this sister” usually bring an “amen” when prayed in a group. But how do you know if you are blessed or helped?
If you ask something, anything specific, you will know if it is answered – healing, a specific amount of money, or someone to accept Jesus as their Lord. Thankfulness becomes a shout when specific prayers are answered.
My daughter has a DPT degree – or a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. I like to introduce her as my “Doctor Daughter,” a term that embarrasses her, so please don’t tell her about this Interruption.
When she decided to become a physical therapist, her goal was to go to The Ohio State University School of Physical Therapy. No other school – only Ohio State. That was her prayer – very specific! I encouraged her to apply to other schools, but her answer was, “I’m going to Ohio State.”
I prayed too.
My daughter, my wife, and I went to an orientation day at The Ohio State University, and sitting in the room were 400 applicants and families. Only 40 would gain entrance to the physical therapy program.
My daughter said that she was going to Ohio State and that there was no reason to go through the bother of applying to other schools.
I prayed more intensely. 400 to 40 and my daughter had only applied to one school. She had graduated from a local university with a double major in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology. During the summers she worked at a physical therapy clinic and, before applying to Ohio State, took additional coursework at a local university.
All the work of her previous education! She prayed, I prayed, her mother prayed, and pretty much everyone that I knew was asked to pray.
One request, one location – that’s it. 400 to 40!
Late one evening my daughter ran into my office, “I got accepted to The Ohio State University.” I gave her a big hug and told her that I never doubted (Yep, that’s me, never-a-doubt Pastor Grant).
Before my daughter began her physical therapy degree, the parents of those entering the program were invited to an orientation dinner. My wife sat next to the Director of Admissions. Learning our daughter’s name from my wife, he said, “She was the second student that we accepted into this year’s class.”
400 to 40 to 2. I was a little frustrated that the Dean didn’t have her as number #1.
That’s a prayer request! Asked specifically and answered abundantly.
Jesus further encourages us to pray by asking specifically:
Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11
Remember 14:14!