Ask Me for anything

“You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.” John 14:14
Many people read this verse and think Jesus is offering a blank cheque. ‘Ask Me for a Porsche, and I’ll give it to you,’ or ‘Ask Me for the winning lottery numbers,’ or ‘Ask Me for the perfect husband.’ But we know from the rest of the Scriptures that this is not what Jesus is referring to. We must ask with the right motives (James 4:3). In his epistle, John tells us, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14, emphasis added). Jesus also said, “And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father” (John 14:13).
The key to receiving what we ask for is to ask according to God’s will, in order that He may be glorified when that prayer is answered. While on the one hand it means that our prayer for a Porsche probably won’t be answered, our prayers to become more godly, to show more of God’s love to other people, to be more attuned to people’s needs, to get closer to God – these kinds of prayers will be answered, because they are God’s will and will result in Him being glorified. Jesus also said, “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” (John 15:7). The key to godliness is not a noble eightfold path, or pilgrimage, or self-flagellation. If we desire to be more godly, we only have to ask.