John 16:26 In the day you will ask in my name . . . .

We to often think of the Cross of Christ as something we have to get through, yet we get through for the purpose of getting into it. The Cross represents only one thing for us - complete, entire, absolute identification with the Lord Jesus Christ - and there is nothing in which this identification is more real to us than in prayer.

"Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." (Matthew 6:8).

Then why should I ask? The point of prayer is not to get answers from God, but to have perfect and complete oneness with Him. If we pray only because we want answers, we will become irritated and angry with God. We receive an answer every time we pray, but it does not always come in the way we expect, and our spiritual irritaion shows our refusal to identify ourselves truly with our Lord in prayer. We are not here to prove God answers prayer, but to be living trophies of God’s grace.

” . . . I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you . . . ” (John 16:26-27).

 Have you reached such a level of intimacy with God that the only thing that can account for your prayer life is that it has become one with the prayer life of Jesus Christ? Has our Lord exchanged your life with His vital life? If so, then “in that day” you will be so closely identified with Jesus that there will be no distinction.

When prayer seems to be unanswered, beware of trying to place blame on someone else. That is always a trap of Satan. God uses these times to give you deep personal instruction, and it is not for anyone else but you.