Journal Entry // November 25, 2022
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (ESV)
1 John 5:14
Confidence… toward God. John tells us that he is writing these things about the surety of our salvation and the promises of God that we may have a bold confidence toward our great God and Redeemer. We have this confidence toward God in that he has assured us of the testimony of his Son, Jesus. He has assured us that Jesus is in fact the one and only true Son of God who took upon himself all of my sin and paid for it on the cross at the cost of his blood. I can draw this confidence from the shed blood of Christ for me. My confidence rests in the finished work of Jesus, knowing that my salvation is secure.
So what do I do with this confidence? I draw near to the One who saved me and loves me. In confidence I can draw near to my God in fellowship and communion and ask for anything according to his will. I can rest in this confidence that through Jesus, I can boldly approach the throne of God and request anything and everything that is according to his will. What this looks like is simply my prayers and requests being aligned with the perfect will of God for all things. That as I love him by following his commandments, my heart will become more in tune with his magnificent glorious righteous holiness. As I draw near in communion and fellowship with my Father, I will be changed. The more time I spend in the presence of my holy Father, the more my heart will be shaped and conformed to reflect his will. In the process, my prayers and requests will be conformed to the motivation and heart of Christ. My prayers will be centered and focused solely on the love of God and the building of His kingdom.
He hears me… This is the confidence with which I can rest my weary soul. I have fellowship and communion with the God and Creator of the universe. He has affirmed that my salvation is complete and that eternity in His presence is attained. I can be confident that he draws near to me as I draw near to him and in so doing, he hears my prayers. My prayers are not mumbled and muttered to a deaf and mute idol. My prayers are brought before the living and true God in His Spirit, through His Son. I am assured that my Father hears me because he loves me. He has proven himself over and over throughout history. I can remember and consider all the wonderful ways he has proven himself even in my limited lifetime. The Lord is faithful and just and true. He has proven his faithfulness over and over again. I can draw near to the Lord in confidence, knowing that he hears my every prayer drawn from the bottomless well of His grace and mercy.