Confidence in Prayer

Confidence in Prayer

"We can approach God with confidence in this: if we make our requests which accord with his will, he listens to us; and if we know that our requests are heard, we know that the things we ask for are ours." (1 John 5: 14 – 15)

This seems utterly reasonable to me. If somebody asks me for something which agrees with my plan for the person, I give it. So it is important that our prayers accord with God's will for us. How do we know God's will?

"The believer who is in fellowship with God will not ask anything that is contrary to God's will. (The Holy Spirit will ensure that this does not happen."

"Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it." (John 14: 13 – 14, Matthew 7: 7, 18: 9), so Jesus promised his disciples. To pray in his name, to pray as he prayed, is to offer perfect prayer, for it is prayer that is always in accordance to his will. Such prayer is always answered, though the answer may be different from our expectations. The assurance that God hears and answers our prayer is for the Christian the final confidence in victory that he is guided by God; and no power of sin or of the devil can ultimately claim him." (The Interpreters One Volume Commentary of the Bible.)