1 John 5:14-15 14And this is the assurance that we have with him, that whatever we ask according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the things that we asked from him.
John returns to the theme of answered prayer (3:21-22). The question is often asked, Why does God not answer my prayers? This verse gives an important clue: we must learn to pray in accordance with God’s will. The challenge is discovering God’s will. This verse could easily be abused by the enticement of materialism. People might think that they can ask for anything they want, name it and claim it, or, as a common word used today, “declare” it. Two implications may stand behind this verse.
First, John may have a specific topic for prayer, rather than the wish list many people come up with when they pray. The previous verses discussed having eternal life. We can be assured that when we go to God in faith and believe the good news about Jesus, we will be given eternal life. We do not need to doubt or be discouraged by a lack of emotions or the fears and doubts that plague our minds. There is clear hope in Jesus, and those who come to him can experience life. Second, as our relationship with God grows, we become more aware of his purpose and plans for us. Our prayers will more closely conform to his will. We will discover more of his will and how we need to respond in the obedience of faith.
Other topics in the letter imply other factors in answered prayer. One, obedience to the law of love confirms our relationship with God. We are ready to listen to God’s will because we have humbly come to him in submission. We are ready to listen because we love God and love others. Two, we are walking in the light and have rejected the darkness of sin. There is nothing that keeps us from God’s presence. Three, with the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, we grow in our assurance and ability to discern God’s voice among the myriad voices that we hear in this world. Our focus changes from seeking our own good to seeking God’s will and the good of others. This redirection can help us pray more in accordance with God’s will.