“Beloved, if our heart condemns us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment” (KJV, 1 John 3:21-23).
“Beloved, if our heart condemns us not”
Father, You are a glorious God Who abounds in steadfast love and kindness toward me. You are amazing and wonderful, and Your goodness knows no limits. You have been gracious to me, and Your mercy is never ending. I pray that You would forgive me for my sins this day and draw me to Yourself. I pray that You would cleanse me from my unrighteousness and wash me with the blood of Christ.
I see that John speaks of one whose heart is not condemned before You. However, I recognize that there are times when I do feel condemned before You. I pray that You would help me to understand Your Word better. I pray that You would help me to have faith in Your Word when my feelings are telling me something contrary to Your Word. I see that for those who are in Christ, there is no condemnation. I see that when I confess my sin, You are faithful and just, and You will forgive me and cleanse me.
Help me to look to Jesus this day and to marvel at His work. Help me to see that I have been united with Christ, I am in Christ, and Christ is in me. Give me eyes to see that which I do not see and ears to hear Your voice. I thank You that, even if my heart does condemn me, God, You are greater than my heart.
“then have we confidence toward God”
I also see that if my heart does not condemn me, then I will have confidence before You. I pray that I would be able to approach Your throne boldly. I pray that I would have a God-given confidence before You. I pray that You would assist me in living a life that is pleasing in Your sight and that, as a result, I would not shrink back from approaching Your throne.
The author of Hebrews has told me that I can have confidence before You. However, he tells me that I can have confidence before You because Jesus is my Great High Priest. I thank You for Jesus. I thank You for the work that He has done so that I could draw near to You. I thank You that I have a High Priest Who can sympathize with my weaknesses and Who has been tempted in every way that I am tempted – but was without sin. I thank You that I can approach the throne of grace to find help in my time of need.
You have given me many reasons to be confident, and they are primarily bound up in the work and person of Your Son. I see that in Him, I am righteous before You. I see that in Him, the wrath of God has been satisfied for me. I see that in Him, I have been reconciled to You, and we are at peace with one another. I see that in Him, I have been adopted as a child of God. I see that in Him, You have removed my sin as far as the east is from the west. I see that in Him, my sin has been cast into the sea of forgetfulness. I see that in Him, I am already seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. I see that in Him, I have been bought with a price, I have been ransomed, and my life is not my own.
“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him”
I see that there are times when You will not answer my prayers. If I pray with selfish motives, I should not expect my prayers to be answered. If I pray while cherishing sin in my heart, I should not expect my prayers to be answered. However, You have told me that You will answer my prayers when I align myself with Your Word. What a blessing, Lord, that You answer my prayers.
Father, I pray that You would work in my heart and make it like Christ’s. I pray that You would burden my heart for Your Word and prayer. I pray that You would use me for Your glory and show me what You have called me to.
I know that you have given me Your Word; in it, I can see much of what You have called me to. I also know that there are secret things that belong to You, Lord, and of those things, only You know. Guide my steps that I would walk according to Your will.
Teach me how to live in this world without being stained by it. Teach me how to honor You in the midst of a twisted and crooked generation. I pray that I would shine like a light in a dark world and that I would be salt to the earth as Christ has called me to be.
Thank You for answering my prayers. Thank You for being a good Father in that when I ask for bread, You do not give me a stone. Help me to see You rightly and according to Your Word. Help me to know that You love me and that You delight in answering my prayers.
“because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight”
I see here that You answer the prayers of those who keep Your commandments and do those things that are pleasing in Your sight. Make me to never forget that I must align myself with Your Word if I desire my prayers to be answered. I pray that I would never fall into the trap of believing that You simply do whatever man asks of You.
Teach me Your commandments, Lord. Teach me Your Word and place it deep within my heart. I have found that there are times in which it is much easier to know what Your Word says than to do it. I also see that Your commandments can also be deemed the law. However, the law was given so that I would know my sin rather than so I could be justified by the law. But I see that John tells me that I must live up to Your commandments in order for my prayers to be answered.
Father, this could only mean that my life is to be characterized by obedience rather than disobedience. Surely, I will never fulfill Your law perfectly. Nevertheless, my life can be characterized by obedience. I pray my life would be. I pray that I would be a disciplined believer and that my life would be marked by obedience.
I see that Jesus Christ always did what was pleasing in Your sight while He walked on the earth. I thank You for His example. I thank You for His words to me and the life that He lived. I pray that You would help me to walk in His steps. Jesus, my helpful Vine, I pray that You would give this branch all that it needs to bear much fruit for the glory of God. I pray, Holy Spirit, that You would impart the life of Christ to me that I might do those things that are pleasing in Your sight.
“And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ”
Increase my faith, Father. I see here a great command. It is a command of faith. You have called me first and foremost to believe. Everything flows through this channel, and nothing comes outside of it. I must believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior. It will not matter at the end of the day how many times I kept Your law if I do not believe in Jesus.
Father, I pray that You would help me to believe on a deeper level. Surely, faith is more than a one-time act. Instead, it is a growing process. I am reminded of the Thessalonians who had been doing a good job loving one another, but Paul told them to excel in their love. He told them to love more and more.
I can see the connection here with my faith. While I do believe, I must grow in my faith. I believe in the name of the Son and have fulfilled this command in one sense of the world, but I pray that You would take me deeper into what it means to have faith in Christ.
Thank You for Jesus. Thank You for Your Son. Thank You that when I was dead in my trespasses and sins, You made me alive together with Him, and You chose to save me by Your grace.
“and love one another, as he gave us commandment”
I see that John does not end with faith, but he continues on to the topic of love. John seemed to be very concerned with brotherly love. I also see that the two greatest commandments are to love God and love others. It has been said that my love for You will be evidenced in my love for others. I pray that You would work Your love into my heart so that I would be able to love rightly.
Show me the love of Christ that I might be like Him and that I might honor You in my imitation. I pray that Christ would work His love through me and that I would be a vessel in His hands. Thank You for the gift of prayer. I pray that You would answer my prayers speedily that I might live a life that is pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus’ name, Amen.