This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
1 John 5:14
Jacqui shares some thoughts on this verse…
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learnt in life is to listen, read and speak carefully to ensure I’m not misunderstanding or misinterpreting a message. It’s incredibly easy to misunderstand, manipulate or misinterpret when you have your own agenda. Our minds are busy trying to find resources to support our case or beliefs, so we might skim over what doesn’t serve us or have selective hearing. I know I’ve been guilty of this.
The importance of 1 John 5:14 is emphasised in the words, His will, He hears us. We can be confident to ask God anything when we approach our request fully understanding that it should be His will we are seeking, not ours. ‘He hears us’ guarantees that He has heard our request. That does not mean He will grant our request if it is not His will.
I’ve been guilty of repeating myself as if He hadn’t heard me, especially when I’ve been desperate such as having someone close to me on their deathbed. How manipulative is that! It is clear by this verse that God has heard me, but I seemed to have skimmed over the His will, He hears us. Why would I assume that the person dying isn’t ready to die, especially when they have been suffering for many years? God has allotted each of us a specific time on this earth. Who am I to demand He change His plan because I don’t want to experience the pain of loss?
To rectify the error of my ways, I recite the Lord’s Prayer to remind myself how I should be praying so I can be confident when I approach God with my request and, whether I like it or not, submit to His will. Matthew 6:7-8 reminds us not to use vain repetitions and that our Father knows the things we need before we even ask Him.
