“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, He hears us.And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we KNOW that WE HAVE what we asked of Him.”-(1 John 5:14-15).
That’s a great passage.
But sometimes it is as though we misread it as a “free for all” a “blank check,” to getting what we want in prayer. Not so. Look again and note the words “according to His will!”
Sometimes I think we can falsely believe that if we pray therefore God is AUTOMATICALLY obligated to answer the way we want or if we “ believe hard enough” that He has to do it. Or if we “tag ” on “In Jesus Name,” and the louder and more forceful we say His Name that He is now obligated to answer whatever we ask from Him. It is as though we used the “magic formula” and therefore have anything we ask, that God now exists to bring our desires, wishes into being. He now becomes our servant… which is so wrong! And these verses in 1 John 5:14-15 help us to see one of God’s conditions to answered prayers and to be greatly encouraged that God not only hears prayers but has the power and heart to do so but also to answer them and this He does. But this is important to note, “…according to His will!” That is important for us to remember it can be a guide to govern our praying and to keep us in between the lines as it were or if we were a train to keep us “on the tracks” and not go “off the rails!” And so we see one of God’s conditions to answered prayer! And where will we discover His will? In His Word! His promises. Deuteronomy 29:29 tells us He has revealed to us through His Word, of Himself, His will, ways and promises-
But then what if we do not know what God’s will is in a matter? Romans 8:26-27 is a great comfort. The Spirit of God is praying for us “…IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WILL OF GOD.”
God bless,
Aidan.