Confidence in Prayer

Read 1 John 5:13-21.

John concludes his epistle by clarifying what prayer is for and what it does in our lives. He explains the confidence that we can have in prayer and then tells us how to pray. Today, we’ll examine the confidence we can enjoy in prayer.

Few people actually pray with confidence. When tragedy and evil strike, we often hear people express that their thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. But this expression often rings hollow because, though they may feel bad about a situation and wish it hadn’t happened, their prayers aren’t rooted in anything with power to work change and restoration.

But John tells believers that their prayers have meaning: “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). When we pray, we are calling on the Living God—the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise, all-loving, all-just, infinite, holy God. And wonder of wonders, this mighty Creator hears us. He listens. Why would such a being—the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last—even care? Because He is love (see 1 John 4:8). He showed us how deep His love is for us with the gift of His Son on the cross (see Romans 8:32). And we can come to Him boldly because He has invited us to have a deep relationship with Him as His child, and we know He is a good Father.

Our natural response to such grace and mercy is to delight in our Savior, to long to obey and please Him because He’s always trustworthy and good. That’s why prayer is not cajoling or convincing God to see things our way. Confidence in prayer is approaching the Lord as a friend speaking to a friend. John uses a Greek word that means “to speak freely.” We have the blessing of speaking to God in an unhampered, relaxed, and open manner. Of course, we speak with reverence, respect, and submission, but we “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Our confidence is not based on who we are or what we have done for God but based on who He is and what He’s done for us. “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). When we delight in God and seek His will on Earth, God hears us and answers our prayers.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You have made a way for me to approach You with confidence, knowing I will always be accepted as Your child. Grant me wisdom to rightly read Your Word by the power of Your Spirit so that I can pray according to Your will. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.