I John 5:14-15 NKJV;  Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Do you have confidence in God or have you become so disappointed with life and unanswered prayers that you’re trusting in yourself and your own resources now? You do understand that without God, you would have no resources, right? There is only one way to have confidence in someone and that is to know them. I will trust in those I know over those I barely know any day of the week. I know God. I walk with him and talk with him, I’ve hidden his Word in my heart, I know that He stands behind what He says, He cannot lie! If you don’t have this kind of confidence in God, I encourage you to get to know Him.  Hebrews 10:35 says, “ So don’t lose your confidence. It will bring you a great reward.” 

The next part of this verse says that we must ask according to His will. How do we know we’re asking according to His will? Romans 12:2 says it this way, “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.” What transforms my mind? Reading the Word (Eph. 5:26). So confidence is built by reading the Word and communing with God and to know the will of God we must have a change of mind by allowing God to transform us, again by studying the Word. In other words, if you want to put a product together properly, read the instructions. Some of us have made a mess of things simply because we think we can figure it out with out reading the directions.

How many reading this, know that we frustrate ourselves trying to do it without help or direction and then it’s all Gods fault. We want all the good stuff without doing what we need to do to keep it; read the Word.  If your foundation isn’t good, the house won’t stand. There is work involved here. I didn’t say works, I said work. We can’t do good to get good, that would be our works, but sometimes we must work to enter into our rest, that is our confident assurance that we can rest in HIS ability and not our own. 

I’m not saying I have the magic formula for everything to go right in my life. This isn’t magic, folks. This is knowing some things about God so that when storms come, you know who controls the winds. This is knowing in your heart that when He said, “I’ll never leave you or forsake you,” even when you feel alone, you know you’re not. This is understanding you have a real enemy who is constantly trying to undermine your confidence in God, but if when you speak against the devil using the Word just as Jesus did, you win every time. Sometimes he’s relentless, be relentless back and everything he speaks to you, answer him with the Word. That’s our sword, our weapon of warfare. Nothing is greater, truer or stronger than the Word of God to win over your enemy.

Last but certainly not least is something the Lord showed me recently found in James 5:16 ERV; “So always tell each other the wrong things you have done. Then pray for each other. Do this so that God can heal you. Anyone who lives the way God wants can pray, and great things will happen.”  We all struggle with things in our lives, find ONE friend, someone who is willing to link arms with you or perhaps struggles with a similar thing, God will show you. Then pray for each other, not for yourself, but for others. God never intended for our focus to be more on ourselves than on others. When we become focused outward, we are inwardly healed. Find a place to serve in your church. If you’re shy or self focused, be a greeter. Put a smile on your face and make yourself do something you’re uncomfortable doing long enough to be others focused. Begin to pray as you greet, that the Holy Spirit would touch that person and be Lord of their lives. 

If you’re in need of healing, find a sister or brother who needs healing and begin to intercede on their behalf to the Father. Be assured, there’s nothing that moves the heart of God than when we become like Him. Make that your goal today. Whatever you’re needing from God, ask once, than find others who have that need and pray earnestly for them. Forget about yourself, focus on others, worship and rest in His Word.