Jesus said to his followers:

23b "Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full. 25 I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name; and I don’t say to you, that I will pray to the Father for you, 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father, and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.”

John 16:20-23 - World English Bible

Many people misinterpret the promise Jesus made in 16:23b. They hold an immature belief that God will give them what they want, when they want it. I like to call this view praying to the ATM deity; you slip the card of prayer into the faith kiosk and withdraw the money of divine favor automatically. Unfortunately, such a view reduces God into a principle or force we can manipulate. This is hardly the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Read in context, Jesus promises intimacy and, along with such closeness, divine favor which depends upon the will of the Father. This last clause is the caveat, for it demands an answer to the question, "What is God's will for my life?" Do we seek his will or our own self-interest? If we seek what God wants, not what we want, the Lord promised he would speak to us clearly, for he prays to the Father on our behalf.

Ultimately, the question of God's will comes down to a more fundamental question: do we love God more than ourselves? If we do, we will believe Jesus came from the Father and will enjoy the love of the Trinity. Is that worth far more than the "stuff" our selfish hearts could ever desire?

Take just five minutes today and pray for God's will in your life.