My wife and I met in a gospel group. As we traveled nearly every Sunday afternoon to churches for Sunday night services we got to know each other.
She had an active college life as well as a vast family life. I, on the other hand, was a few years older. I was a single dad (rare in those days) with a full-time job, a house, and an active life within my local church.
I Need To Know
Our first few dates were superficial. We were discovering if we both “liked” each other. One evening, after I picked my wife-to-be up at her apartment, we were driving to our group’s practice session when I turned to her and said, “I have a problem.” (You can stop here and ridicule me. I deserve it.)
My question caught her off guard, so she had no idea what I was going to say. I said, “I really like you.” I wanted her to know that I would back off if it was a problem. She said, “That’s not a problem.”
My clumsiness came from not knowing her. At that point, we had spent very little time together. Because of this, I wasn’t confident that I was reading our relationship correctly. This problem of “knowing” is even more important when it comes to our relationship with God.
A Plethora of Promises
God has given us many incredible promises throughout the Bible. From the book of Genesis, when God gave us the promise of the Messiah to the last verse in the book of Revelation, 22:21, which reads, “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.“
So, when we come to promises like the one in 1 John 4:14 we need to understand that the Holy Spirit inspired John to write this promise to Christians that know what fits within the will of God. To do this, we have to develop a deep, personal relationship with the one true God.
Usually, but not always, it takes time to learn the things of God. We need time to study God’s Word, to be mentored by mature Christians, and to learn to discern God’s will. We need to learn to be led by the Holy Spirit, using the Name of Jesus legitimately, and to ask the Father for things that please Him and not “ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.” (James 4:3)
1 John 4:14-15, 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.
It’s all about knowing and obeying the will of God
Is that wonderful, or what! If we ask for anything that is within the will of God, we will receive it. Now, remember the words I’ve written before presenting this Scripture to you.
Just as I had to make sure my will was in alignment with this young woman I had started dating, we each must make sure that what we ask is in God’s will. If it is then nothing in the world can prevent us from receiving our request.
Please know that disappointment and bitterness have come to many people that tried to convince God their requests were His will. When you pray, be bold, and be sure.
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
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https://rockexcavationservice.org/2019/04/09/god-is-relationship-2/