If you’ve been reading 1st John with us, did you notice what he says in chapter 3:21-22, “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.”
Claiming, we receive anything we ask, captured my attention. Does that describe your prayer life? I’ve been blessed many times with answers to my prayers from God. But I can’t say that everything I’ve asked for I received.
Notice what John said made it possible for such a successful prayer life? Confidence, obedience and pleasing God. Confidence grows in a heart that does not condemn us. This is the result of believing in the name of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. That’s the first command to obey. This saves you and makes you God’s child, which is basic to having your prayers answered.
Then obey whatever other commands God points out to you. The most basic one is to love one another. In addition to obeying the clear commands God gives you, John said he did what pleased God. To know what will please God is the result of cultivating an intimate relationship with Him. The closer you are to Him in your daily walk the better you’ll be able to discern what will please Him.
Pray for me that such confidence will grow in my prayer life because of consistent obedience and the ability to discern and do what pleases God. I pray this for you as well.
