"Ask anything in my name and I'll do it" ... how it works.

Years ago, I was tasked with coalating a Bible in a foreign language (which I had studied) and was overwhelmed by the seriousness of that work.

I felt God was asking me to pray and ask him for a gift of the Spirit of God to help me in the work.

Being the research-first sort of person, I spent hours studying the gifts of the Spirit.

In studying prayer, I considered: "ask anything in my name in my name, and I will do it" promise that Jesus made his disciples.

Very long story short, I came to believe that Jesus' promise was in the context of "seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Jesus was telling his disciples, "in the context of desiring the Kingdom of God and will of God above your own kingdom and your own will... ask anything and I will do it."

My next pursuit was to study what things are within the kingdom of God.

This led me to the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (against such there is no law). Galations 5

And also the gifts of the Spirit, some of which are listed in I Corinthians 12, but which are as many and diverse as the expressions of God, I believe.

With this understanding I returned to God in prayer and told him that although Paul said to desire Prophecy and ask for it (a gift of the Spirit) that what I would desire above all would be supernatural insight into his Word. That when I was working in translation, that the Spirit of God would be there, explaining the text, the culture, the meaning, the words, and giving me insight far beyond my own.

I felt in that moment that the Spirit of God answered me that this gift was given, and also that of Prophecy.

I am not telling you this story for self-glory, but because yesterday, as I was praying, God reminded me again to ask in his name for the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God, and to let other believers know this as well.

Consider what is his will through you (it's not likely to be protection of your savings, earthly belongings, etc) and then ask for those things in his name.

If your desire agrees with the fruits of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, and the furthering of the Kingdom of God in your life and for those around you - then ask boldly, gladly, rejoicing that it will be done!

And please, when your prayers are answered, come and tell me here so I can thank him with you.