Confidence in prayer
John from the text is saying that Christians have the confidence to come to God in prayer because they have a relationship with God. Not only they enjoy having the assurance that they have eternal life but also, they have the assurance that God hears their prayers. They have the freedom to come to God anytime and anywhere. The success in their prayers in obtaining what they have prayed for is because the answer in their prayer is in line with His will. This is also what the Lord Jesus Christ had told His disciples: “if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” (John 15:7). Prayer in the life of a believer is not a small, compartmentalized, and disconnected part of his or her life. In prayer, we experience the enhancement of life for we express our enjoyment in communicative contact with the Giver of life in all the areas of life. This is why Paul said that everything in life should be soaked in prayer. “Pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6). Our confidence comes from the knowledge that when we pray, we are ushered into His presence. This freedom to come to God is what will boost our morale. It prevents us to become immerse to ourselves bogged down with doubts and cast down relying on our own resources. If we ask based on what pleases Him and not based on our selfish desires, John says, “he hears us” and “he will give us what we ask for.” Even the Lord Jesus Christ submits Himself to the Father’s will when He prays to the Father. “…I want your will to be done, not mine” (Matthew 26:39). Praying in accordance with God’s will is asking Him that His answer to our prayers will give Him glory. When we pray submitting ourselves to His will, we know that God will hear us. He will answer our prayers in His time when we ask. Prayer should be ongoing in the life of every believer and not just when we are confronted with new urgent matters. “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up” (Luke 18:1). We are commanded to “Give all [our] worries and cares to God, for he cares about [us]” (1 Peter 5:7). We have this wonderful privilege to come to God in prayer because of our relationship with Him.
Blessings,
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