I must realize that God gives me unlimited authority in prayer, but only when I am praying about His business. I must not get the idea that I may pray for personal ease, comfort, and material success and expect to get answers. When God puts Himself at my disposal in prayer, it is ultimately for His cause, not mine. I must not build my life inwardly, thinking only of my own personal needs, although God cares about these, and expect God to accommodate Himself to me. Jesus said. “Ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:14, NIV). But to ask anything in His name means concerning His affairs. I would not think of usurping my boss’s authority and using my position in his business to selfishly promote my own interests. Why should I do so with the affairs of Jesus? So for protection in my service for Christ, for the supply of my needs, for strength, and for all, I am to use His authority with the Father, but only as it affects His work and purpose.
Using the name of Christ in prayer immediately brings into my hands all that Christ is with the Father. Christ always prayed to His Father for the welfare of His work on earth, but when He left He gave that privilege and responsibility to me. I am now to use His position with the Father to carry on the work He left for me to do. I must not abuse that trust! I must not make selfishly mine what is His. That privilege in prayer, if it is not to be abused, means Christ must be preeminent in me. His work must be my first concern. His glory and honor must be my meat and drink. By being totally consumed for Him, I assure myself that I will learn to pray the “prayer of a righteous man [that] can accomplish much” (James 5:16). That kind of praying is awesome in its power and effectiveness.
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).
Daily with the King 