Pray with confidence

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God.” 1 John 5:14 NIV

Sometimes we pray “just” prayers. We say, “Lord, we just ask You to protect us or provide for us…If You would just help us in this situation, we would be so thankful.” It’s as if we are saying, “Lord, I hate to bother You with this, but….” It sounds humble, but in reality it demonstrates a lack of faith and confidence in approaching God. Plus it’s not scriptural. 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). “If our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him” (1 John 3:21-22 NIV). “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” (1 John 5:14-15 NIV). “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory…forever and ever” (Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV). “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11 NIV). As a redeemed child of God, you can approach your loving heavenly Father with confidence, knowing that whatever you need, He will provide it—and much more!

Bible in a year: Esther 3-5 and Romans 11:1-18