And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15
Another of the final thoughts that John leaves as an encouragement is the confidence we can have, as those born of God, that God hears us and grants our requests. This is a promise for those who know they have eternal life. Along with the assurance of eternal life comes the assurance of answered prayer. As we examine this promise in context, we realize this has to do with the abiding nature of God and the abiding nature of a true child of God. As we dwell in God and he in us, then his desires become our desires and our prayers are fueled by his nature and his desires and we are offering prayers for what he would have happen in the world. We move from self-centered prayer to God-focused prayer. We know him and we know what his desires are as he has revealed them to us in his word. We begin to pray for his will and his desires and join with him in seeking those things to come about. Our prayers are shaped by his abiding presence and our wills are shaped by our hearts in prayer. Our will conformed to his will is proof that we are abiding in him and he in us. We know him and we know that he hears us and we know that he answers. We have that confidence.