Make Your Requests With Confidence

90 Days of Prayer – Day Fifteen

1 John 5:14-15 
“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.”

A noteworthy fact for all believers, is their confidence is already within them before they pray.  This verse speaks of a covenantal lifestyle with a tendency toward a healthy positive mental attitude about life.  Being justified freely by grace through faith without guilt or condemnation, breeds confidence toward God in all things.

God Confidence was present when we heard the gospel message.  We learned it was God’s will to save us, this gave us the confidence to receive His forgiveness. Receiving Christ was the answer to our first specific prayer request based on what we knew to be God’s will at the time, and we received exactly what we asked for! …That is confidence.

The word translated “confidence” in verse 14 comes from the Greek noun “parresia” which carries the idea of assurance and boldness.  Redeemed people are called believers because of the settled assurance of Christ’s forgiveness within them. This confidence came to us when we heard the message of Christ (faith (confidence) comes by hearing the word of Christ – Romans 10:17). This is why the justified ones are able to live by faith their whole life through (see Hab.2:4, Rom.1:17, Gal.3:11).

Conquer All Things By Prayer

We read in 1 John 5:4 “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” If we’ve been given this world overcoming faith (confidence) in order to be saved and to live by it, why not continue using it intentionally when we pray?  Whether we realized it or not, we used it when we prayed to get saved in the first place.  You see, faith works anywhere we apply it in conjunction with God’s word (which is His will).  What better place to apply it than in prayer?

So, once again we come to this most amazing fact about getting answers to prayer.  We use the promises found in God’s word because what He’s promised He intends to do. By basing our prayers on those promises, we actually have God’s answer already in hand before we ask.

Having been given this power of faith (confidence) to overcome the world, let’s continue using it to be victorious in prayer; advancing God’s kingdom purpose in all other areas of life.  People were designed to believe God!  We learn from Genesis 1:27-31 that people were created in God’s image and likeness, and blessed to walk and to work confidently with Him, to accomplish His will on earth as it is in heaven.

A Lifestyle of Deep Assurance

Jesus and His apostles taught believers how to live and pray in a confident dependence on God the Father for everything.  They were instructed to pray by aligning their thoughts with His will (the promises).  Their confidence in the Father came from focusing on those promises which filled them with a deep assurance.  

Prayer for them was faith building, encouraging, and an exciting experience, because their interactions with God were founded on the plain facts of redemption that Christ and His apostles had taught them. These facts included the certainty of answers to prayer (Matthew 7:7-11, Mark 11:22-24, Luke 11:9-13, John 15:7-8).

Prayer is a Family Affair

The blessings that Christ’s redemption purchased for humanity became for the Church a living vibrant empowering reality. They were taught that prayer was an expression of the loving relationship between God the Father and His sons and daughters. Faith is always birth out of fellowship with the Father.  In essence Prayer is from start to finish a Kingdom family affair (read Matthew 6:1-34); where every member is completely confident that what the Father has promised, He will do. His faithfulness toward His family is the reason for our confidence when meeting with our heavenly Father in prayer.

Become familiar with God’s word, read the wonderful things He says about, and has planned for, His sons and daughters. Be aware that these were written for you to live on. Be assured by His promises, Be confident in prayer, and Be Encouraged! -JSP