I want to highlight how Jesus concentrated on His love toward us, when He was focusing on the doctrine of asking whatever we want in prayer and getting it. The two passages are from John 14-17, and Ephesians 3.

Jesus says as much as the Father loved Him, He (Jesus) loves us.
He says as much as the Father loves Him, the Father loves us.
He says the glory/value the Father gave Jesus, He has given to us.
Jesus says the peace He has, He has given to us.
Jesus says the house He dwells in, He has given us real estate there.
Jesus says the Joy that He has, He has given to us.
Jesus says the word the Father gave him, He has given to us.
Jesus says the Spirit and Power for ministry He has, He has given to us.
Jesus says the authority the Father gave Him, He has given to us.
Jesus says He is our friend.
Jesus says He wants to be with us.
Jesus says He wants us to be with Him.
As if this is not enough, He says He wants to be in us the way the Father is in Him and us in Him.

This is both an action doctrine, in how God acts toward us, but also a definition of our identity in Jesus Christ.

In context of all things Jesus kept saying, ask whatever you want and you will get it.

Thus, when Paul prays for the church in Ephesians, the prayer is basically about them knowing about God’s love and then also experiencing God’s love. The conclusion of knowing and experiencing God love leads to two things. One, is that we are made full with God’s ablity and life. Second, is that in our prayers for good things, God gives to us exceedingly beyond what we ask or think. Think about the 12 large baskets left over from the feeding of the five thousand.

Think about how Jesus and the Apostles focus seems so different from how some preach on this topic. They always talk about the will of God this and that, in regards to prayer. Yet, Jesus does not even mention this, if only indirectly by suggesting God’s will is that prayers are based on man’s will. Jesus’ emphasis is about how loving God is toward us. Thus, when we pray, we presuppose the greatness of our Father’s love, so that “whatever” we ask for, we get it. A person who receives the truths of their beloved, superior identity, as Jesus taught us above, will obviously approach the throne of God will boldness and gratitude. They will ask and they will receive.

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a PLACE for you.” (14:1)

 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And WHATEVER you ASK in My name, that I will DO, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (14:12-14)

“Because I live, you will LIVE also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. (14:19-20)

“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will LOVE him, and We will come to him and make Our HOME with him. (14:23)

“PEACE I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (14:27)

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ASK what you desire, and it shall be DONE for you. By this My Father is glorified (15:7-8)

“As the Father LOVED Me, I also have LOVED you; abide in My love. (15:9)

 “These things I have spoken to you, that My JOY may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (15:11)

“Greater LOVE has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his FRIENDS.” (15:13)

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you FRIENDS, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you” (15:15)

 “You did not choose Me, but I CHOSE you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain” (15:16)

“If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” (15:20)

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” (16:13)

“Ask, and you will receive, that your JOY may be full.” (16:24)

 In that day you will ASK in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you;  for the Father Himself LOVES you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.” (16:26-27)

 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have PEACE. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (16:33)

“They know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.  (17:7-8)

“GLORY has come to me through them.” (17:10)

“I say these … that they may have the full measure of my JOY within them.” (17:13)

“For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” (17:19)

“I have given them the GLORY that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me” (17:22-23)

“That you LOVE them as much as you love me” (17:23 NLT)

“Then your LOVE for me will be in them, and I will be in them.” (17:26)

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s LOVE and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his LOVE is.  May you experience the LOVE of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
(Ephesians 3:16-20 NLT)