He Hears!

He Hears!

1 John 5:14 AMP

[14] This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us.

As it has always been pointed out, the audience defines the expectation. Those who the verse is addressed to are clearly indicated and these are believers. In fact, the first verse of the chapter from where the verse above is taken states: 'Everyone who believes [with a deep, abiding trust in the fact] that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) is born of God [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose], and everyone who loves the Father also loves the child born of Him. This is where I need to examine my current pursuits and priorities, and be sure that they line up with the expectations of God from those who claim to know Him. It is not enough to hear or read about Him; I must take the next step of personally experiencing Him. 

This is what counts. This is what gives me the confidence to approach God as my Father. God created everyone, but not everyone has accepted Him as Lord and Saviour. This is the place where the created has been given the power of freewill; to choose who to submit to and obey. God could have chosen to make us robots, with no choice in the matter, but this would not have served God's wisdom well. He wants it to be a choice to follow and worship Him. He wants me to approach His throne of grace with confidence, not because I always get what I want, but because His presence means more to me than whatever presents I get from Him. I do not raise His gifts more than His presence, because gifts have expiry dates. When this present earthly phase is over, whatever gifts He gave would no longer apply on this phase. All that will count will be the presence of God in me. 

That is what I need to focus on, and to pursue with every sense of purpose. I come to Him with a heart that seeks after His will, not just His consent to everything I ask for. I come with a heart of surrender, sure that whatever His response is to my request is not just what keeps me tied to Him, but that His presence gives joy, peace, hope and life that nothing or no one else can give. I note that the verse ends with the confidence that God HEARS me anytime I ask for anything according to His will. The timing of the answer, the nature of the response, and the quality and quantity of the response are all within His remit. Power and might belong to Him. Can I trust Him with my life? Can I rest on His promises, sure that if He says it, He can and will do it. Would you? God's time of favour is here.