ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL
Author: Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans
Translator: Robin Barker
I was sent something by someone, which made me re-think the matter, a subject which I know is a problem for many people.
I dearly want to share with you what occurred to me when pondering the matter.
Remember also, that this is my understanding of the matter, and which is also the understanding of most Christians.
The section out of the Word is as follows:
1JOHN 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (TNIV)
1JOHN 5:15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (TNIV)
There are people that claim that if you are a child of God, you can ask God anything in the Name of Jesus and you will receive it as long as you believe, because you are the child of God and your Father will give or do it for you.
To begin with, I will as a child of God, never ask my Father for anything which is outside of His will.
As an example, if a car pushes in front of me in traffic, I would never ask my Father to cause that person to have an accident. I would not even ask for that person to get a flat tyre.
And yet it seems to me that many people think that God does not hear them. That He does not want to hear them.
I want to explain it this way:
If my child comes home with a broken lip and asks me to lend him my revolver, because he wants to go and shoot Piet, because he is not strong enough to hit Piet, and he is always being bullied by Piet, I will attend to the matter, but I will not lend him my revolver, even though I love him very much.
I will attend to the matter, but not immediately, I will wait until Piet’s father is in my house with me.
I will doctor my son’s lip and during this process, the disinfectant may hurt my son’s lip even worse than the blow from Piet, I know that at that time I am doing the right thing and that it is the right thing for my son at that moment.
My Father, in Heaven, will react the same way if I approach Him with a problem or request.
Just like my child’s example –
He does not always react the way I want Him to.
Just like my child’s example –
He does not always react when I want Him to react.
Just like my child’s example –
His immediate reaction is not always pleasing to me.
Just like my child’s example –
His wonderful Godly reaction was always but always and will always be, – and I know it will always be so in the future – the absolute best thing for me which happens at that particular point in time – Although I, at that particular time, may not see the logic behind it.
In the meantime I look at my life, around me, and like so many times looked at my past through a dull mirror and I see sometimes a puzzle which I cannot make head or tail of, but with certainty know:
1COR 13:12 “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (TNIV)
Because, praise the Name of our Lord!
Our Lord who created the universe from nothing – is in control.
How did JESUS pray when He drank from that terrible cup of suffering?
LUKE 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (TNIV)
I close off with, where I began: (from the TNIV translation)
1JOHN 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
1JOHN 5:15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Greetings,
Sakkie