‘This is the confidence we have in approaching God.’1 John 5:14 NIV
Sometimes we can find ourselves praying ‘just’ prayers. We say, ‘Lord, we just ask you to protect us, or provide for us…If you’d just help us in this situation, we’d be so thankful.’ It might sound humble to pray like this, but in reality it actually demonstrates a lack of faith and confidence in approaching God. The Bible says, ‘Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need’ (Hebrews 4:16 NIV). And in 1 John it says: ‘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’ (5:14-15 NIV). We can go to God and confidently ask for what we need. We don’t need to be afraid of asking Him for help. He always listens to us. But it’s important to remember that asking confidently won’t guarantee that we get what we want. However, when God says no, it’s not because He can’t do what we’re asking. In fact, He is ‘able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20 NIV). God will give us the things that will be best for us. Our earthly parents may not always be able to give us the things we need, or they may make decisions that negatively affect us. But as a redeemed child of God, we can approach our loving heavenly Father with confidence, knowing that He’ll always provide for us in the best way possible. What Now? What do you need today? Spend a few minutes confidently asking God for His provision.