1 John 5:14-15
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The real power here isn't just asking, but asking according to His will. It's a subtle but crucial distinction that shifts our focus from getting what we want to aligning our desires with God's perfect plan, trusting that He hears us when we're on His wavelength.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
John is writing to assure believers of their relationship with God, particularly in contrast to false teachers who deny Jesus. He's just explained that obeying God's commands, like believing in Jesus, is evidence of true love for Him and leads to victory over the world. This verse, therefore, highlights a direct result of this abiding relationship: bold confidence in prayer because we know God listens when we ask in line with His purposes.
Ever felt hesitant to pray, worried you might ask for the wrong thing? This verse speaks directly to that fear.
The confidence we have in approaching God isn't about our own merit or perfect wording. It's rooted in who He is and His promise.
A Foundation of Assurance
John calls it "confidence" (parrēsia in Greek), which implies boldness, freedom of speech, and complete openness. This isn't the confidence of a demanding customer, but the assurance of a beloved child approaching a loving Father.
The Condition for Hearing
Our prayers are heard when they align with God's will. This doesn't mean we have to perfectly discern His will every time; it means our deepest desires, when brought to Him, should aim for what aligns with His character and purposes. When we seek Him, His Spirit helps us pray according to His will.
What does it really mean to ask according to God's will, and how can we know?
This isn't a spiritual puzzle to solve before we can pray; it's an invitation to intimacy. Asking 'according to His will' means our requests should reflect His heart and purpose.
Aligning Our Desires
God's will is revealed in His Word and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When our prayers aren't just about 'me, myself, and I,' but also about His kingdom, His glory, and the good of others, we are praying in line with His will.
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Trusting the Hearer
Even if we misstep in understanding His will, the promise is that He hears us. The focus is on His faithfulness to listen and respond, not on our perfect discernment. Our part is to seek His will, and His part is to hear and answer.
Understand the original words
parrhēsia · Greek Noun
A sense of bold assurance, courage, or freedom of speech before God. It is the privilege of the believer, granted through the work of Christ, to approach the throne of grace without fear or hesitation.
thelēma · Greek Noun
The sovereign purpose, desire, and decree of God. To pray according to His will is to align one’s requests with God’s revealed truth, character, and redemptive plan rather than with selfish human ambition.
Jesus teaches about the power of persistent prayer, linking asking, seeking, and knocking with receiving, which echoes the confidence of being heard that John mentions.
Romans 8:26-27This passage speaks to the Holy Spirit interceding for us according to God's will, providing a deeper understanding of how our prayers align with God's desires, even when we don't know how to pray.
Philippians 4:6-7Paul encourages us to bring our requests to God with thanksgiving, assuring us that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds, highlighting the confidence that comes from approaching God in prayer.
James 4:3James points out that we often don't receive because we ask with wrong motives or for selfish reasons, directly contrasting with the condition in 1 John that we ask 'according to his will'.
The real power here isn't just asking, but asking according to His will. It's a subtle but crucial distinction that shifts our focus from getting what we want to aligning our desires with God's perfect plan, trusting that He hears us when we're on His wavelength.
John is writing to assure believers of their relationship with God, particularly in contrast to false teachers who deny Jesus. He's just explained that obeying God's commands, like believing in Jesus, is evidence of true love for Him and leads to victory over the world. This verse, therefore, highlights a direct result of this abiding relationship: bold confidence in prayer because we know God listens when we ask in line with His purposes.
John is writing to assure believers of their relationship with God, particularly in contrast to false teachers who deny Jesus. He's just explained that obeying God's commands, like believing in Jesus, is evidence of true love for Him and leads to victory over the world. This verse, therefore, highlights a direct result of this abiding relationship: bold confidence in prayer because we know God listens when we ask in line with His purposes.
"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." — The real power here isn't just asking, but asking according to His will. It's a subtle but crucial distinction that shifts our focus from getting what we want to aligning our desires with God's…
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Last reviewed October 2026
