1 John 5:14-15 NLT [14] And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. [15] And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
God is very faithful! But be aware, this scripture is not a “name it and claim it” scripture.
The key word in this scripture is “pleases”. Our desires must line up with His desire for us. He will not honor a request if it does not line up with His word. He cannot contradict himself. We must read the word and know what promises are there for us and pray those over ourselves. We need to be submitted in every way to Him, being obedient and following His instruction in order to have the scripture work wholly in our lives. If we are doing things that are contrary to the will of God our desires will not line up.
How do we know that our desires line up with His desires for our lives?
John 15:4-5 NLT says [4] Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. [5] “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:6-8 NLT [6] Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. [7] But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! [8] When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
What type of fruit are we bearing? Ask yourself that question, is God pleased?
A man is known by His fruit.
(Matthew 7:16 NLT [16] You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. (Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?).
When we are fully functioning in the will of God we can take full advantage of all of His promises. This scripture gives us authority to call things out, through our faith, out of the heavenly realm into the earthly realm. If we understand this principle of authority that was given to us, we will live victorious lives. The same resurrecting power that Christ displayed on earth lives within us when we accept Him into our lives as our personal savior. That same Faith he displayed we have access to. He wants us to thrive and be fully functional in our godly authority through Him and to be fully functional we must follow His precepts.
Other scriptures that parallel this one are:
Matthew 21:21-22 NLT [21] Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. [22] You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”
Mark 11:22-26 NLT [22] Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. [23] I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. [24] I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. [25-26] But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
This scripture shows us that we need to line up with His precepts to have what He is showing us in scripture.
His desire is for us to come boldly and ask him for the things we need, be bold. As His children we should be strong in the knowledge of our identity in Him and come to Him EXPECTING Him to intervene.
Ephesians 3:12 NLT [12] Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
God wants the very best for all of us. Ask God for His will to override yours and that your prayers align with His word and your desires please Him.
If we do this, he will do that. If we draw close, he will draw close. Be blessed.