Listening for Days || 1 John 5:14-15 || Manna for the Mind #50

Welcome to Day 50 of the “Manna for the Mind” devotional series! This series is about taking scripture passages (typically 1-3 verses) and building our understanding of their teachings through their context and connecting scripture. I believe that doing this helps us understand how to be the type of human that God created us to be.

Today’s passage is about confidence in God hearing our asks of him.

1 John 5:14-15

14           And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.

15           And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

John emphasizes that we should pray for what pleases God, not what pleases us. When talking to God, we should not demand what we want. Instead, we should ask him what he wants for us. I heard it recently said that we should pray something to the effect of (I forgot the original): “God, you know what we need. Help us want what you know.” It’s a beautiful way to think about it. God knows what’s best for us. He designed the path for our life while we were being conceived, accounting for each moment along the way. If we want to live the life he designed for us, we must ask to see that path ourselves. We need to allow for as much as we need to know in the season we’re currently in and have the discerning power to follow said path among the many temptations and distractions in our worldly lives.

If we align our prayers with God’s will, he’ll listen; because he listens, he will give us a definite answer. There have been many times and many people, including me, who complain about God when he doesn’t answer my prayers or answer them in a way that makes the most sense. This is foolish thinking, though. Who are we to question the all-knowing, all-power God of our lives? Our thoughts and ways aren’t better than God’s. Sure, the outcomes we wanted might have been the most comfortable for us this season, but God gave us the outcome needed to build us up for future seasons. It may hurt in the short term, but God looks at the long term. This shows why there’s always a push for eternal living and how we can pull that down to earth today. How it starts is by praying with confidence. Listen to how confident we should be.

Matthew 7:7

7             “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

Jesus wants us to persist through prayer. When it doesn’t feel like it’s working, pray again. When it doesn’t feel like God is listening, pray again. When it feels like it isn’t going the way you want, pray again. People typically give up after a few halfhearted efforts to pray and conclude that God doesn’t listen. With this, I want to say there’s no wrong way to pray. However, are we praying because that’s what we’re taught, or are we praying because we need to? It surrounds the concept of your heart posture. Communicating with God in prayer takes faith, focus, and follow-through. Jesus assures us that we will be rewarded as we develop a deep relationship.

Don’t give up seeking God. Ask God for more knowledge, patience, wisdom, love, and understanding. He will give these things to you, and they will get stronger the more you talk to him. The more you talk with God, the more you recognize his voice. When you feel like quitting, try one more time. Why?

John 14:13-14

13           You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.

14           Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

When Jesus tells us that we can ask for anything, we must remember that our requests must be in line with his will (that is, according to God’s character and purpose.)  God does not answer prayers that contradict his nature as a means to fulfill our selfish desires. This echoes what I mentioned earlier about God’s responses being tailored to the season we are in, with a view to benefiting our future. If we are sincerely following God and seeking to do his will, then our requests will align with his desires, and he will grant them. What are you seeking from God today?

Father God, thank you for allowing us to come boldly before you to ask for what we need this season. While your answers might be different from what we always wanted, we know you want the best for us. Help us to want the things you want, do what you do, and love in the way you love. It’s in your name, we pray. Amen