"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it you" (John 16:23).

What liberty is given here! However, an unqualified "whatsoever" would leave us unrestricted, and the Lord would thus have opened the door to all the desires of unbroken, self-serving wills among His people. But He adds, "In My Name." This is His limit_that which He sets up.

If we apply to God for anything in the Name of Christ, it must needs be in keeping with what Christ is. It is as if Christ Himself were asking it of His Father. He does not want us to make Him the messenger, as if we had not the liberty to approach. We have the same blessed liberty which He has, for grace has made us sons, and we are loved of the Father with the same love wherewith He is loved (John 17:23). He wants us to realize that holy liberty, and to go ourselves with our request straight to the Father in His Name, as if it were Christ Himself presenting it_He who is always heard, because He always does what is pleasing to the Father.

But how could Christ present any request to His Father inconsistent with His own character and ways? He acted always within the circle of the Father’s will. To pray in His Name, then, involves our presenting to God only that which Christ could and would present. It calls for a real setting aside of our own wills and for moving only within the circle of God’s will, where Christ always was and is. Setting up our own plans, then making use of Christ’s Name with God, as if He were pledged by it to obey us, is an awful mistake, which He will rebuke to our shame.

Oh, to have more of that lowly, broken spirit which finds its home in the Father’s will, its delight in Christ’s interests here, and which, burdened with that, knows how to plead with God and never give up! And though the answer may be long in coming, victory is as sure as His throne. "Scripture cannot be broken" John 10:35), and He has promised, "Verily, verily, I say unto you. Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it you" (John 16:23).

Sad to say, however, we are apt to be much more earnest when our will is at work than when it has been surrendered. How much more earnestly men will work in a business of their own than in the employ and interests of others! It but reveals that in us (that is, in our flesh) dwells no good thing (Rom. 7:18). Let us then take courage. Let us lay hold of His business, carry it in our hearts, make it our own, plead with God about it according to the measure He has given. If Christ be our Object, let us ask of God_ask much _and we will receive much, and our joy will be full here and our reward great there.