"According to His Will"

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15 ESV)

John, in writing to his followers, was clear that God hears prayers. In each Gospel, we see the Son of God in worship and communing with the Father. However, there is something in the words of John that explodes off the page.

It is not the confidence we have in approaching God. We do have confidence in approaching God. In our justification, we are made right before God, our sins borne by Christ, to which we have repented. We can stand before Him with confidence. While this is very true and important for us to understand, there is something greater we must understand.

It is not that we know He hears us; we do know God hears us. Christ said, “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20). Christ is always with us, yet He is not here in the flesh, but He sees, and He hears.

What is critical for us to understand is this: “that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” God's will is not always what we desire, but it is what is best for us and aligns with His divine plan. You can pray for anything you want: a million dollars, a new car, a wife, a husband, or a baby, healing, or even a pet, but if it is not in line with God’s will, your prayer will be heard by God but will go unanswered. So, why bother praying? Because we do not always know God’s will, but we trust that His will is perfect, and His timing is right.

It is crucial to understand that Christ is our intercessor. The Spirit prays with words when we have none (Hebrews 7:25, 1 John 2:1, Romans 8:26). When we lead a Christ-centered life, our prayers are more likely to align with God’s will. We do not ask for money because we trust that God will provide what we need if and when we need it. We know that God blesses us with those things He has designed us to receive. Sure, you can pray for the extravagant, but is that what you truly need?

Everything we need is found in Jesus Christ; the answers to our questions and desire to learn about Him are found in His Living Word. The writer of Hebrews wrote, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (4:12). I know it is alive, as do many of my brothers and sisters, because it is given to us and inspires us; the very thoughts we write are returned to us, validating the work of the Spirit in us.

Live as God has instructed. Do as Jesus did when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) Christ said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do.” When we do this, when we center our lives on Jesus, our desires will naturally align with His will. In this, your prayers align with His will. Truly, I tell you, God already knows what you need, really need, before you know yourself. We know this because Jesus taught this very thing: “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.”(Matthew 6:7).

Therefore, align your prayers with God's will, and trust that He knows what is best for you.

Pray because you trust in the Lord. Pray because you have faith that you are heard, and pray that you may be strengthened in both trust and faith. Are you without confidence in approaching God? It is inevitable, and one must know.

Are you one who does not know Jesus, much less how to live a life for Him? Tell Him you want to know. Ask Christ to forgive your sins and save you from yourself and the evil one. He is there, and He hears. If you have questions about Jesus, scripture, or prayer? Contact us here at In Messiah, Jesus is who we live for, will you?

Grace and Peace.