Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 212 – 1 John 5:13-15 – He Hears Us – Growing As Disciples
I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. 1 John 5:13-15 (NLT)
I Will Hear You
Do you know that to be true? Do I know what to be true? Do you believe that I will hear you? Do you believe that I will answer your prayers? Yes, I believe that you will hear me. Yes, I believe that you will answer my prayers. Will I answer every prayer that you pray? No, I’m sure that you will not answer every prayer that I pray. What prayers will I not hear and answer for you? You will not hear and answer prayers that are not pleasing to you. What kind of prayers are not pleasing to me? You will not hear and answer prayers that are outside of your will. You will not hear and answer prayers that are not according to your purposes and plans. You will not hear and answer prayers that are outside of your timing. You will not hear and answer prayers that would ultimately be unhelpful or unhealthy for me. You will not hear and answer prayers that are self-centered, self-indulgent and self-sufficient. You will not hear and answer my prayers if they are filled with my own sin. That is true. But I should stop here for a moment and clarify my thinking and response to your question. Go right ahead. “No”, is an answer to prayer. Sometimes, “no” is your very best answer to my prayer. I can think of many prayers that I am now glad that you did not answer. So, you often hear and answer my prayers, that are not pleasing to you, with a “no” because you have something more or something else or something better for me. That is true. “Not yet”, is also an answer to prayer. I am often impatient. I hate to wait. There have been many times that you have heard and answered my prayers with a different timing or in a different way than I could have ever anticipated. You have often delayed hearing and answering my prayers until I was ready to receive what I wanted to give me. That is also true.
What kinds of prayers are pleasing to me? Before I answer that question, I need to clarify one more thing. What’s that? I need you to guide my prayers. I need you to teach me how to pray. I need you to help me to know what prayers would be pleasing to you. Yes, you do. So, prayers that are reliant on you are on the right track. Yes, they are. Prayers that bring you honor, and glory are pleasing to you. Prayers asking for your help are pleasing to you. Prayers asking for wisdom are pleasing to you. Prayers of adoration, confession and thanksgiving are pleasing to you. Prayers of intercession for others are pleasing to you. Prayers that are according to your will are pleasing to you. Prayers that will accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans are pleasing to you. Yes, all these prayers are pleasing to me. Yes, I will hear and answer these prayers. Will you keep on praying prayers that are pleasing to me? Yes, I will. That will be very good. Then I will hear you. Then I will answer your prayers. Thank you, Heavenly Father.
Heavenly Father guide my prayers. Help me to pray prayers that are good and right and true. Help me to pray prayers that are according to your will and purposes and plans. Help me to pray prayers that are pleasing to you, that you will hear and answer. Amen
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Promises – Day 197 – 1 John 5-13-15 – He Hears Us – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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