by Cathy Vinson

If your role in life carries the combination of having insights and passions but not much authority, you will find yourself frequently in the place of approaching an authority. It helps put you in the place of the child. Though he or she has intense desires it may or may not be able to move their authority to action. The child with passions every bit as felt, but less based on wisdom and experience, may not be heard as seriously as he would wish. (Perhaps this is why even the evil "know how to give good gifts to their children" (Mt 7:11).)

"Approaching God...that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of Him" (I Jn 5:14,15).

There are parallels in approaching all authorities. What you really want, and quickly, is for them to MOVE ON your requests. But more likely, especially if they are seasoned, they will slowly and intently listen, weighing it all. You will be trying to subdue your fervency while they may confirm your intensity to politely let us know they are hearing us. Are they hearing us? "If we ask anything according to His will He hears us." This soundly ends verse 14.

But, but our intent is that He moves on it. It's one thing to be heard, but like the child, I want Mommy to go out and buy it! I want the movement.

Because our desired end is intimacy with God, being heard is enough. Is the nugget we initially wanted covered in being heard? Yes, if heard, "WE HAVE what we ask of Him." But it appears He is not at a panicked pace to let us know that. He heard us like an authority.

Like any authority we come before, the approach, the hearing, and hopefully the desired movement occur. But unlike any authority, the hearing of our plea united with His eternal plan IS the thing we originally sought. It is not something we will have, but right then, we've got it!

1 John 5:13-15