This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
The lost sinner is saved by grace through faith in Christ, but once that man or woman has been redeemed from the kingdom of Satan, and transferred into the kingdom of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that believer is expected to continue living his or her life by faith. All Christians are commanded to walk by faith and not by sight. We are instructed to pray in confident faith, by maintaining an unshakable trust in the Word of God, and by standing on His precious promises, which provide all we need according to His riches in mercy. “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace,” we are exhorted, “so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” The security of our salvation and the assurance of everlasting life, is founded on the unchangeable Word of God and His unchanging character. And the certainty that God hears and answers the prayers of the righteous, is equally guaranteed. For this is a truth that is founded on God’s personal pledge, His promised Word, and His changeless character. Knowledge of our sure salvation and our eternal inheritance should give every Christian the conviction to pray in faith and to pray expectantly, knowing that God hears our cries, and having that assured confidence that He will answer anything and everything that is asked. However, we should be careful that when praying, we do not ask for something that is outside His sacred will and holy purposes. Some may wonder how we can know God’s will? How can we be sure that we are praying in accordance with His plans and purposes? Well, the Word of God is the greatest indicator of the will of God…not only for us individually, but also for the wider world…all who are born-again are expected to know the Scriptures thoroughly. To rightly divide the Word of truth, and to put into practice the godly principles and instructions that are specifically written to the body of Christ…which is the Church. And we are to carry out the good work that God has prepared for us to do, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. God shows no favoritism, and all believers have been given the same opportunity to walk in newness of life and allow Christ to be formed in us. The more we live for His praise and glory, align our thoughts to the mind of Christ, and keep our fleshly self nailed to the Cross…the more we find that we pray according to the will of our heavenly Father. And the greater will be our confidence that He will hear and answer our prayers, “for this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
Spiritual Steve 