Read: I John 5:13-15.
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
The apostle John tells us in this Scripture passage that we can pray with confidence. If you are a follower of Jesus, John is writing to tell you several important things. He begins by reassuring us that whatever trials, tribulations, failures, and disappointments come our way, they are insignificant compared to eternity, and we can be confident that we will spend eternity in the presence of the loving God we worship.
Second, prayer is powerful and we can be confident that God hears us when we pray. If we ask anything according to His will, God hears our prayers (verse 14). Third, not only does He hear our prayers, but we have the assurance that our prayers will be answered. This doesn’t mean that we can “name it and claim it,” and have a new luxury car, house, or a million dollars. Nor does it mean that any of our own ideas of our needs, wants, and desires will be immediately fulfilled. It does mean something even more important. If our request is “according to his will,” we know that “we have what we asked of him.” (verse 15).
As a young university professor, I aspired to leave my university position, and move on to a larger, more prestigious music school. In the course of one academic year in the early 1980s, I interviewed for three different positions. I prayed fervently that God would clear the way for me to move into the one best suited to me. Yet, one by one, each door was closed. Hadn’t God heard my requests? Didn’t He understand that I was well-suited for a more prestigious position? Didn’t He care about me? Why hadn’t He answered my prayer?
In fact, God did hear and answer my prayer. At the time, from my human perspective, it wasn’t the answer that I desired, but my loving God knew what was best for me and my family. He had things in mind for me that I couldn’t envision. He is an awesome God!
According to His will. . .Finding God’s will is essential for effective prayer. Through prayer, we align ourselves with God’s will, rather than pleading for Him to satisfy our needs, wants, and desires. During the season of Lent, remember the importance that Jesus placed on prayer. Throughout his ministry, Jesus prayed to his heavenly Father. He taught the disciples to pray, Thy will be done. This Scripture provides assurance that when we seek God’s will for our lives, our prayers will be effective, God will hear them, and they will be answered.
Are you confident that your prayers are heard and answered? What does this passage teach us about effective prayer, and how can you apply it to your prayer life? During Lent as we reflect on our Lord Jesus, and anticipate the coming of Resurrection Sunday, help us to learn what God’s will for our life is through prayer to our heavenly Father.
Pastor John