1 John 5:13-15
Verse 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
We have talked in the earlier part of our study about communicating with God but today we are going to talk a little more specific about it.
James isn’t talking about basic communication in this passage but rather about prayer, specifically petitioning God for something. Now we need to be clear that this isn’t about thinking that we can ask Him for whatever we want and He will give it to us. While He listens intently to us and desires to provide for us, He is not a vending machine or Santa.
The Lord is very interested in what is going on in our lives and even though He knows what we are dealing with, He loves when we want to share our hearts with Him. When we have something pressing upon our heart there is no better place to go than to a friend that is close to our heart and there is no one closer than the Lord. He knows not just our heart but also the concerns that plague our mind. He also knows the motive behind our requests before we even make them.
When we make requests from Him we are acknowledging that He alone can bring us what we are asking for. It is a way of saying that we know He is in control and we are not. This knowledge puts us back into our proper place and that is what gives us the confidence that we can ask according to His will. This of course means that we aren’t asking for things that bring us happiness, but what will fit with His plan.
Our key verse for the day says that we can have confidence as we approach His throne with requests that fit His will, but how can we know what is in His will? His will always have eternity in mind and will always bring Him glory. We can also know that His will always aligns with His character. Praying for something that will cause us to sin will never be in His will. Nor will He grant things that will cause His plan to get off track. But if we ask in accordance to His will, we can know He hears us. This is a promise of relationship, eternal relationship. When we desire His will, we prove that we have eternal resolutions.
Making It Personal
What kind of things do you pray for? What are some things that you should be praying for as they align with His will? Do your desires match His will?
Making It Personal Kids
What kinds of things do you pray for? Are there things that Jesus would want you to ask for? Do your wants and Jesus wants match?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for listening to us. Give us hearts that seek Your will and a desire for it above all else. In Jesus’ name, amen.