“And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.” – 3 Nephi 18:20
When I reflect on the promise in 3 Nephi 18:20, I feel a deep assurance in the power of prayer. Christ’s words are direct and clear: if we ask the Father in His name, with faith and in complete accord with what is right, we will receive. It is a remarkable invitation from the Saviour to approach God with confidence, knowing that the heavens are open to those who seek His will. However, the condition, is equally important—our requests must be in accordance with what is right. This admonishes me to reflect not only on what I desire but on how my desires are shaped by God’s will. I think of Psalm 37:4, where we are counselled to “delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” This verse connects quite well with the message in 3 Nephi because it can help us understand that as we make sure our steps are with those of the Lord, our desires will naturally conform to His will. The things we seek will be what is right in His sight because our hearts have been changed to desire what He desires. It is not merely about receiving what we want, but about wanting what is good and right before Heavenly Father.
In my own prayers, I often find myself asking, “Is this right? Is this what Thou wouldst have me ask for?” There is a humility that must come with prayer—a recognition that I don’t always know what is best for me or for others. Yet, when I ask with real intent, seeking not only to be heard but to understand God’s will, I can trust that He will answer in the way that is best.
The New Testament also supports this principle. Christ Himself taught, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7) The promise here, like in 3 Nephi, is contingent upon our relationship with Him. If we abide in Christ—if we live His teachings and His Spirit dwells in us—then our prayers will reflect His will. Abiding in Christ is more than just believing in Him; it is living in harmony with His ways—being obedient to His teachings, which shapes not only our actions but also our thoughts and desires.
There have been moments in my life when I have prayed for things that, at the time, I was sure were right. Yet, as I have matured in faith, I see that the Lord, in His mercy, did not give me what I sought because He had something better in store. His understanding of what is “right” transcends my limited perspective. I recall the words in Isaiah 55:9: “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God sees the whole picture. He knows what I need before I ask Him and what I will need long after the prayer is spoken. There is also the crucial element of faith. Christ instructs us to ask “believing that ye shall receive.” This definitely does not mean a casual belief or quick passing hope but a deep trust in God’s ability and willingness to answer. This requires me to approach Him with a heart that truly believes He will respond, even if that response comes in a form I do not expect. St. James in his epistle says: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” (James 1:6) If I ask without real faith, my prayers lack the power they could have.
Prayer is an act of faith, of trust, and of submission to God’s higher wisdom. It is not merely a request for divine intervention but a communion with God, where I seek to understand His will and shape my heart according to His purposes. Christ’s promise in 3 Nephi 18:20 is both simple and significant: if I ask in His name, in faith, and in harmony with what is right, the Father will hear and answer. This truth fills me with hope, knowing that the Creator of all things is attentive to my prayers and will give me what is best when I ask according to His will.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
