A Blank Check

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it. John 14:13-14

With these words Jesus gave us carte blanche, a blank check, to ask Him for anything. For the longest time I didn’t believe He really meant anything, but that’s exactly what He said. Jesus explained to the disciples that anyone with faith in Him could do the things He did. That’s powerful. He then reinforced this claim by telling the men that the sky was the limit when it came to making requests of Him. Who could refuse such an offer? Most of the church.

The most frequently offered excuse is, “Jesus is God, and we’re not.” This is true; however, Jesus took off His divinity when He came to earth. He was a man just like me and you. He didn’t operate in His Godly power. He needed to believe and walk in faith the same way we do. He totally depended on His Father for direction and then went out on a limb when the Father said, “Do it this way.” Per His Father’s instructions, Jesus did some crazy things in order to get results. Would you spit in some dirt, make mud and then put it on the eyes of a blind man so he would be able to see? When the tax bill is due and the IRS is breathing down your neck, would you tell your friend to go catch a fish and retrieve the money in its mouth? Those are just two of the unusual things Jesus did in order to work a miracle. John’s gospel closes with this comment. “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” John 21:25.

No wonder Jesus said we could ask Him for anything. We don’t know everything He accomplished in that intense three year period. What does anything look like to you? Does this wide open, no holds barred invitation make you nervous? If anything is REALLY anything, could I possibly ask for the wrong thing? Absolutely! But that’s no reason for concern; God’s already addressed that issue. “You have not because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives…” James 4:2-3. Jesus said there isn’t a prayer He can’t answer but our motives determine His response to our request. If we ask for the wrong thing God is willing to wait until we get it right before He acts on our behalf. He’s got us covered.

What does anything mean to you? We are free to ask for it and if we have faith and believe we receive, we’ve got it. How and when God answers our prayer is His business. Stay tuned to His voice for instructions and directions that will lead you to ask for the right things. You’ve got a blank check…use it!