Friday, July 28 DO WE PRAY WITH CONFIDENCE? 1 John 5:13-21

Friday, July 28

DO WE PRAY WITH CONFIDENCE?

1 JOHN 5:13-21

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (NIV)

1 John 5:14

I once had my ups and downs with my prayer experience. I asked myself if it was really worth it to pray for a specific thing, because God often responded differently and sometimes delayed in doing it. But I came to understand that sometimes I was trying to adapt his will to mine, and not the reverse, as is supposed to be the case. I asked God to teach me to pray simply, but also intelligently. To do this I had to know his Word better and read it more regularly.

God is pleased when we seek him spontaneously, but as we know him better, we discover that it is necessary to have certain discipline by reading his Word and meditating on it.

God goes a step further, he wants us to “take pleasure” and finally be delighted by seeking his will. This gives us confidence in prayer and in doing his work.

It is important that we be grateful in our prayers and that we pause to listen to what he is telling us. We don’t have to be fanatics, simply faithful and natural. He will help us to hear his voice among so many other voices, and give us the confidence that we need and to delight in living.

Prayer: Father, teach us to seek you in our spirit, in accordance with your good will. Amen.

Translation by George Meek

¿ORAMOS CON CONFIANZA?

1 JUAN 5:13-21

Tenemos confianza en Dios, porque sabemos que si le pedimos algo conforme a su voluntad, él nos oye.

1 Juan 5:14

Personalmente en un tiempo tuve mis altibajos con respecto a la experiencia de oración. Me preguntaba si valía la pena orar por algo determinado, ya que Dios suele responder de otro modo y a veces se demora en hacerlo. Pero fui entendiendo que ocasionalmente, yo trataba de adaptar su voluntad a la mía y no al revés como debe ser. Pedí a Dios que me enseñara a orar con sencillez, pero también con inteligencia. Para eso debía conocer mejor su Palabra y leerla más regularmente.

A Dios le agrada que le busquemos espontáneamente, pero conforme lo vamos conociendo, descubrimos que también es necesaria cierta disciplina al leer su Palabra y meditarla.

Dios apunta aun más allá, quiere que “le tomemos el gusto” y que finalmente nos deleitemos en buscar su voluntad. Esto nos da confianza al orar y al obrar.

Es importante que en nuestras oraciones seamos agradecidos y también hagamos pausas y escuchemos lo que Él tiene que decirnos. No es necesario fanatizarnos, sino simplemente ser fieles y naturales. Él nos ayuda a distinguir su voz aun en medio de tantas otras voces, nos da la confianza que necesitamos y nos añade la alegría de vivir.

Oración: Padre, enséñanos a buscarte en nuestro espíritu, conforme a tu buena voluntad. Amén.