Expectant Prayer

 

Expectant Prayer: Standing Tall in God's Will

Scripture

"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

Personal Reflection

How often do we approach prayer with a clear expectation? Do we imagine a divine butler at our beck and call, ready to deliver our wishes on a silver platter? Or perhaps, we're more like the deist, believing God set the world in motion and then stepped back, leaving us to fend for ourselves. There are times I've certainly fallen into both camps, my expectations fluctuating with the perceived urgency or impossibility of my requests. It's easy to doubt if God truly hears, let alone responds, to our prayers, especially when answers don't arrive on our timeline or in the way we envisioned.

But what if our understanding of prayer was rooted in a deeper confidence? What if we approached God not with a "maybe" but with a "yes"? The passage from 1 John challenges us to consider a different posture: one of uprightness, of standing straight and tall. It speaks of a profound confidence that comes from aligning our prayers with God's will, as revealed in His Word.

Contemplation

The text highlights a crucial point: when we pray according to God's will, particularly as found in the Torah (and by extension, the whole of Scripture), we can expect an answer. This isn't a magical formula for getting whatever we want. Instead, it's about understanding that God's will is always for our well-being and the well-being of our community. We are encouraged to ask for nothing that exceeds these boundaries.

The word "confidence" in 1 John is illuminated by its Hebrew root, suggesting an upright stance, like something standing firm and tall. This isn't about arrogance, but about a secure trust. When we pray God's Word back to Him, we're not hoping for a "maybe" but believing in a "now." The certainty of the answer is established in the present, even if we don't experience its manifestation immediately. God will not violate His own Word. This understanding frees us from the anxiety of uncertainty. He desires us to believe Him, to stand tall in the assurance that He hears and responds.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of prayer and the incredible privilege of approaching Your throne with confidence. Forgive us for the times we've doubted Your faithfulness, for when our expectations have been misaligned with Your sovereign will. Help us, by Your Holy Spirit, to immerse ourselves in Your Word, the Torah, and all of Scripture, so that our prayers may increasingly reflect Your perfect will for our lives and for the world around us.

Grant us the grace to stand tall and firm in our faith, knowing that when we pray according to Your Word, You hear us, and Your answer is already secured. May our deepest desire be for Your will to be done, trusting that You always do what is most favorable for our well-being and the good of our community. Strengthen our confidence, not in ourselves, but in Your loving, holy, and merciful character.

In Jesus' name, Amen.