Where Does Your Confidence Lie?

1Jo 5:14 ¶  “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

Where does your confidence lie?  What do you most depend on?  Your own skill, past achievements, scholastic ability, talents, or physical appearance and personality?  If you confidence lies on any of the above, you will one day be sadly disappointed as there is only one whom we can put complete confidence in, and that is Christ.  You may say that you tried in the past and things didn’t work out like you planned or wanted.  Maybe you had a broken relationship, failing health, a unexpected death of a loved one, or financial loss.  While it is impossible to address each need accordingly and why each happened, it is possible to realize that we must ask “according to his will.”  

So what is God’s will?  First, we know that his will is for all to be saved, including you, for it is written, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  2 Peter 3:9  God’s will is for all to be saved.  Will they be?  No.  Man has been given the chance and will choose his destination.  

He would also like you to “prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2  That means that, while God is nit particularly interested in making you rich, he does want you to have the basics of life and more besides to enjoy and share with others as “God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;” 1 Timothy 6:17b  This also includes health for our bodies.  So why don’t we see more healings?  Because of our lack of faith!  Matthew 17:19  says, “Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

Then we must know that he hears us.  A life that is sanctified and dedicated to Him will draw God’s attention.  James 4:8  “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”