BOLDNESS - 1 John 5:14
And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. - 1 John 5:14.
An amazing assurance (if we ask, he hears us) and an invitation to boldness (ask anything), qualified by a necessary awareness (ask according to his will).
It may seem like a dichotomy to pray boldly yet with an awareness of what God wants of us, but perhaps it will become easier to understand if we look at some related verses.
First, we can rejoice in Matthew 7:7: "Ask, and it will be given to you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you." We truly can give it all to God and find God wherever we look.
But we should also remember how Jesus prayed, at Luke 22:42: "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup form me; yet not my will but yours be done." We truly can ask boldly for anything, but we have to keep it an "ask," not a tell.
And we can, and should, turn to Jesus in the same way; see John 14:13-14: "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it." Jesus will do what we ask him to do, as long as we pray in the name of Jesus and to the glory of God.
Our prayers must also be faithful and in the right spirit; see Matthew 21:22: "Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive it." We are to ask with faith, which may be as simple as asking first for faith. Consider the story of the father who brought his son to Jesus for healing. He began meekly, asking Jesus for his help "if you are able,", but he became bold after Jesus told him to have faith. See Mark 9:22-24: "...Jesus said to him, 'If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes.' Immediately the father of the child cried out, 'I believe; help my unbelief.'" We might also follow David's words from Psalm 51:10-12: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. ...sustain in me a willing spirit." Our faith, and thus our prayer, depends on a right and willing spirit.
And there, again, is the Trinity! We are to pray boldly, yes, but according to God's will, in Jesus' name, and in the right spirit of faith.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. - 1 John 3:21-22
Lord, keep teaching us to pray.
An amazing assurance (if we ask, he hears us) and an invitation to boldness (ask anything), qualified by a necessary awareness (ask according to his will).
It may seem like a dichotomy to pray boldly yet with an awareness of what God wants of us, but perhaps it will become easier to understand if we look at some related verses.
First, we can rejoice in Matthew 7:7: "Ask, and it will be given to you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you." We truly can give it all to God and find God wherever we look.
But we should also remember how Jesus prayed, at Luke 22:42: "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup form me; yet not my will but yours be done." We truly can ask boldly for anything, but we have to keep it an "ask," not a tell.
And we can, and should, turn to Jesus in the same way; see John 14:13-14: "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it." Jesus will do what we ask him to do, as long as we pray in the name of Jesus and to the glory of God.
Our prayers must also be faithful and in the right spirit; see Matthew 21:22: "Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive it." We are to ask with faith, which may be as simple as asking first for faith. Consider the story of the father who brought his son to Jesus for healing. He began meekly, asking Jesus for his help "if you are able,", but he became bold after Jesus told him to have faith. See Mark 9:22-24: "...Jesus said to him, 'If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes.' Immediately the father of the child cried out, 'I believe; help my unbelief.'" We might also follow David's words from Psalm 51:10-12: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. ...sustain in me a willing spirit." Our faith, and thus our prayer, depends on a right and willing spirit.
And there, again, is the Trinity! We are to pray boldly, yes, but according to God's will, in Jesus' name, and in the right spirit of faith.
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The wild kid at church (what makes him wild?
what you'd perceive) read in his own world,
aloud, mouthing each word that beguiled
the church elders, banderoles unfurled.
He plugged away, learning less about
how to shush up in sanctified space
than how to make meaning inside out;
the pages turned boisterously with grace.
And when the Lord's Prayer called upon the kids,
the maverick walked mildly, bridging hands
with soon-to-be friends --- his manner rids
them of demons, as none understands.
Ears strain to hear through wavelets of noise,
then train your hearts toward wild equipoise
--- Dan Lamken, 2016
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Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. - 1 John 3:21-22
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Lord, keep teaching us to pray.
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