Spiritual Strength For Each Day
“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22).
6. Be prepared to receive.
We cannot simply take, however. John says, “…we…do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” Here he is saying nothing other than that it has to do with obedience. We ask for much, but we do not receive. Why do we not have the power to receive? Is God so hard, is His arm too short, that He is not able to help? No! But we don’t do what He says. The truth is, we do not want to obey, we do not want to be fully truthful, we do not want to forgive, and therefore we cannot stand fast in faith. These different aspects are closely connected; they are actually an entity: to be prepared to receive, prepared to be truthful, prepared to believe, prepared to be judged, prepared to be reconciled. Then we are also prepared to receive what we ask for, because we do what He requires of us. The life of a person who is obedient and prays in this way becomes unspeakably rich. Such a person will say with David, “My cup runneth over” (Psalm 23). And he will rejoice with Paul, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).
