Day 20: The Chief End of Prayer

“I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:12-13KJV)

The chief end, the aim, the very soul and life of our prayer is so ‘that the Father may be glorified in the Son”; “… that the Father’s Glory will be shown through the Son” (TEV); “… so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.”(NIV) It was Jesus’ goal when he prayed, “Father glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son may glorify Thee. I have glorified Thee on earth: glorify me with Thyself.” (John 17:1, 4)

When we pray in Jesus’ name, He will do what we ask for, so that by answering our prayers, the Father will be glorified. Now wait, I’m not suggesting that whoever pray in His name, God will answer it. No, I got to be careful now. You see, it is obvious that this promise is for His disciples not just anyone. It was and is for those who knew Him. And to know Him is to receive Him as Lord and Savior. When His life is our life, the presence and rule of the Lord Jesus in our heart can cast out all our self-glorifying life and replacing it with His own God-glorifying life and Spirit.

By our own effort, we cannot attain a life that Glorified God. Have you heard someone says, ‘Nobody is perfect’ before? Well, it’s true! Rock group Simple Plan highlighted it really clear in their hits song, “I’m not perfect”. But the Bible on the other hand highlighted a Person that is perfect in all His way – Jesus Christ. It is only in the God-man Jesus Christ that such a life can be found. With His Spirit in us that longs to glorify the Father, will teach us to live and to pray to the glory of God… “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Dear students in the School of Prayer, is the Glory of God is your object of prayer? Are self-interest and self-will the highest priority that urging you to pray? Andrew Murray writes, “God cannot be glorified when that glory is not the object of our prayers.” As I examine my own prayer life, I had discovered that the Glory of God is not my chief end of prayer. I learned to confess my ignorance and by the grace of God, He teaches me to obey His Word. Readers, obedience will please the Father. As you obey Him, the Holy Spirit within us will assure us that we are living for God and His glory. By having a personal relationship with the Lord, you’ll discover about his character and purpose, thus, your prayer will never be the same and your focus would be nothing more nothing less but for the Glory of God!

In conclusion; when you pray makes your chief end is to Glorify God. Remember, Jesus promise that “whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”