It comes down to Confidence

(1st John 5:14,15 AMP)  And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.  And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.

This morning we continue our new series entitled, “Re-Energizing Your Prayer Life.”  I introduced this passage to you yesterday and I told you we would take a closer look at it today.  Let’s do it!  I believe this passage boils down to two major points:

1.  Confidence in His Hearing:  “And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.”  Faith is all about confidence.  The higher your confidence, the stronger your faith.  That’s why it is so important to search the scriptures concerning our situation BEFORE praying.  If we can find out what God already said about our situation, and if the Bible is clear on the topic, then we already know God’s will as we go into prayer.  John tells us that when we ask for anything in accordance with His will, that we can have full confidence in knowing that He has heard our request.  So, if you want to be sure that God will bend His ear towards your request and that your request is valid, make sure it lines up with the Word of God.  This way, you can have full confidence entering into prayer, while you are praying, and when you walk out of your prayer closet.  This confidence is critical because we have already learned that doubt, fear, and unbelief can/will hinder our prayers.  When we ask, we must ask in confidence and to ask in confidence we must be convinced that what we are asking for is in alignment with God’s will.

2.  Confidence in Our Having:  “And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.”  After having approached the Father in prayer, in full confidence, completely convinced that what we are asking for is in alignment with His will, then John teaches us that we can walk away from that prayer experience with the full confidence that we HAVE (present tense) whatever we prayed about.  Let me explain.  Hope says, “I will have it some day.”  Faith says, “I have it right now, it just has not manifested yet.”  Faith believes it receives at the moment it prays.  When Jesus spoke death over a fig tree He walked away from the tree believing it was dead from that moment.  Now, nothing had happened in the natural yet, but in Jesus’ heart He had already received what He declared.  24 hours later the disciples saw the tree dead and they were amazed, but Jesus was not moved because He considered that tree dead the moment He spoke it (see Mark 11:12-26).  Anyone can thank God after something happens and they see it with their own eyes, but the Father wants us to pray, fully believing, and to walk away from our prayer having already received our petition by faith.  When you pray this way you can actually start to thank God, giving Him the praise for what He has done, well before you ever see it with your own eyes and before you hold it in your own hands.  Of course, this cannot be done without faith.  Faith receives the answer in your heart well before you ever see it in your hands.  And this confidence will serve you well while you are actually waiting for the physical manifestation of it, because during this time of waiting the devil will attempt to get you to reconsider your stand and to ‘throw in the towel’ on your faith.  But don’t do it!  Remain IN FAITH.  After you pray, believe you have already received it, and then remain in faith while you wait for the manifestation of it!

Closing Confession:  Father, I thank You for teaching me to pray and for helping me to build up my confidence in You.  I feed my faith by searching Your Word for scriptures concerning whatever situation I face.  I then formulate prayers in accordance with Your Word.  I come to You, in faith, praying those prayers in full confidence, knowing that they are aligned with Your will because they are aligned with Your Word.  I pray with the full confidence that You hear me, because I am praying in accordance with Your will.  And after having prayed in confidence, I walk away with the full confidence that I already have everything I prayed for.  I believe I receive when I pray.  I receive the manifestation in my heart well before I will see it in my hands.  This confidence will help me resist every temptation to give up on my prayer while I am waiting on the physical manifestation of it.  I declare this by faith.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper!