1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
JOHN GILL: COMMENTARY:
but the revealed will of God is here intended,
by which it appears that all grace is laid up in Christ,
and all spiritual blessings are with him,
and that the covenant of grace is ordered in all things,
and full of the sure mercies of David,
and of exceeding great and precious promises;
all which are treasured up for the benefit and use of the people of God;
and if, therefore, they ask for any grace, or supply of grace,
for any spiritual blessing or mercy laid up in Christ,
in the covenant, or in any of the promises,
they ask that for matter which is according to the will of God,
and which they may be assured they shall have, sooner or later:
and to ask in a manner agreeably to his will,
is to come in the name of Christ,
and make mention of his righteousness,
and ask for his sake;
to put up all petitions in faith,
with fervency, in sincerity, and uprightness;
with reverence, humility, and submission to the divine will, and with importunity;
and such askers God hears,
even so as to answer,
and grant their requests in his own time,
though not always in theirs;
in some cases sooner, in others later,
according to his infinite wisdom,
and in his own way,
which is always the best, though not in theirs,
as in the case of the Apostle Paul, 2Co_12:7.
The Alexandrian copy and the Ethiopic version read,
"if we ask anything according to", or in his name: that is, of Christ,
and which agrees with John 14:13.
John 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (14) If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.