1 JohnSample

In the last passage, we talked about the powerful testimony of God. John then concludes his letter by reminding believers that we can confidently place all of our trust in God.

Verse 14 says, " We are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.” Don’t skim over this and miss a key part. God doesn’t just want to give us what we ask for; He wants to partner with us in aligning our desires with His pure and perfect will for our lives. When I read this verse, I’m reminded of the nature of a loving father. A father who has a true and deep desire to give his child everything they could ever dream of but also knows full well what is good for them. The child of THIS type of father will surely be blessed by his wisdom and generosity. John reminds us that we live in a world under Satan's control and are therefore influenced by his schemes. BUT we serve a God who cannot be fooled. If we place our faith totally in Him, He will lead us away from the traps of the enemy. John knows this and encourages us to keep our eyes fixed on God and pursue His plan for our lives. We must not let the distractions of the world sway our hearts.

As we close out this final chapter of John, let’s challenge ourselves and others to be confident in who God is, to have big faith and ask for big things, and to intentionally pray for God to align our desires with his will.

Prayer Points

• Pray for God to reveal any desire of yours that does not align with his plans and ask him to transform it.
• Pray for God to increase your faith and give you the courage to believe in big things.
• Pray for the wisdom and the courage to stand firm when the enemy's schemes seem too big.