I love all of I John chapter 3, and particularly verse 22 about receiving from God. It is always good to read each passage in context, and if you start in verse 16, this is how it reads.
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 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.
It sounds like love is pretty important when it comes to prayer! We are not just supposed to be talking about love, but really loving people through action. We can have confidence when we come to God if we have loved in word and in deed. If we really want to receive from God, the promise of verse 22 is for us, when we love like Jesus loves. Let’s please God by loving people completely!
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