Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. – (1 John 5:14, HCSB)
We can come to God with no doubts. This means that when we ask God for things (and those things agree with what God wants for us), God cares about what we say. – (1 John 5:14, ERV)
We live in the bold confidence that God hears our voices when we ask for things that fit His plan. – (1 John 5:14, VOICE)
I appreciate that there are qualifiers to being heard when we ask. Jesus is not our fairy godmother nor some genie in a lamp. The same God who created the entire universe and all its inhabitants, is near enough to hear our prayers. He hears us as we ask according to His will, not our own. Often, our biggest blessings are seemingly unanswered prayers, as His plan is so much better. We think we know what we want and need, but God knows beyond our immediate circumstances. He sees the entire outcome and longs to bless, strengthen and guide us for all of our days, not just the days that we realize our need for His help. If things are good, we ought to praise Him. When things are challenging, we are meant to ask for His help, guidance and strength. God is faithful to hear us, and is loving and kind in how He answers. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways, higher than our own. May we ever seek the Lord with confidence, as we ask according to His good and perfect will.
Let’s ask of the Lord,
What is right and true;
Aligned with His will,
For in Him, things move.
When we ask the Lord,
To come in and change;
We must allow Him,
Full and complete reign.
This means we listen,
And choose to obey;
That which He asks us,
Do all things His way.
It isn’t easy,
But always it’s best;
He give what we need,
Be it strength or rest.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can come to You and pray to You, and You hear our prayers. Thank You that You answer according to Your good and perfect will, not our whims or wish lists. Thank You that Your ways are always best, even when we cannot begin to understand how. Forgive us for the times that we have sought You with wishes instead of heartfelt prayers. Teach us to invest time in Your word and in prayer so that we know Your voice and understand how to ask according to Your will rather than our own. Show us how to love those around us in ways that make Your goodness and kindness tangible. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You and ask of You according to Your will. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
“Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7
Revelations In Writing 