John 15:16
You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed youthat you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so thatwhatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
Notice the order of things in this verse. We bear fruit thatremains SO THAT whatever we ask theFather in Jesus’ name, He will give us.
We usually think of it the other way around. We think wemust pray in order to produce spiritual fruit in our lives, and that is true.But the problem with that view is that we see prayer only as a tool that helpsus in the ‘real work’. But Jesus wants us to see prayer, not only as a help inministry, but as a fruitful ministry itself.
Prayer is a ministry, and just as we would for any otherministry, we should prepare ourselves in our spiritual state to be ready topray. Just as we would with any other ministry, we should have the goal ofbeing more effective in our praying and should be working towards that goal,making ourselves useful to God for prayer.
What could you do that would prepare you spiritually to bemore fruitful in the ministry of prayer? How can you be more effective inprayer? What is God’s challenge to you today? Journal your response to Him.