'Relational prayer is the centre of all true prayer. The power of petitionary prayer depends on the centrality of relational prayer.

That's exactly what Jesus said. Sit with His disciples in the upper room and listen to his words: "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will given you." As we're wondering what it means to remain in Him, He goes on: "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15: 7-8).

So that's what He's saying. To remain in Him means to live for the single purpose that ruled his life, with the same passion that kept Him on track. He loved his Father, he loved spending time with His Father in prayer, and He wanted nothing more than to let everyone see how wonderful His Father was, even if it cost Him His life. And that life, His life, is now in us. His passion and purpose are in our hearts.

Every request from Jesus that flowed out of that passion and purpose was answered during his life on earth. And it will be in ours. If we share Christ's passion for His Father and dedicate ourselves at any cost to the purpose of bringing heaven's kingdom to earth by revealing the Father's character in all our relationships, then our petitions will reflect the mind of Christ - and they will be answered'.

Source: Papa Prayer by Dr Larry Crabb

Back