February 24

Hear So as to Be Heard

If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. — John 15:7 BSB

Take note: we must listen to Jesus if we expect Him to listen to us. If we have no ear for Christ, He will have no ear for us. We will be heard in proportion to how much we hear.

Furthermore, what we hear from Him must remain in us, must live in us, and must influence our character as a force and power. We must receive the truths Jesus taught, follow the precepts He issued, and allow the movements of His Spirit to work within us; otherwise, we will have no power in prayer.

If the words of our Lord are received and remain in us, what a vast field of privilege is opened to us! We are promised that we can have our will in prayer because we have already surrendered our will to the Lord’s command. This is how men like Elijah were trained to hold the keys of heaven and control the clouds. One such person is worth a thousand ordinary Christians. Do we humbly desire to intercede for the church and the world, to be able to move the hand of God like Luther? Then we must diligently listen to the voice of the Beloved, treasure His words, and obey them carefully. Those who would pray effectively must first listen attentively.