Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 John 3:22

"and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight." — 1 John 3:22 (ASV)

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Notice those conditions of answered prayer; we cannot expect God to grant us our wishes if we do not conform to his will.

Holiness has a great deal to do with power in prayer. It is not every man who prays who shall have whatever he asks for; but it is put so here, and it is notable that it is so put: Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. This is not mere legality; this is not a matter of work-mongering. When we become God's children, he treats us as a father treats his child.

You know what you do with a boy who is disobedient; he asks you for something that he wants, and you say, "No, I cannot grant you that; your conduct is such that I cannot let you have the pleasures that I would otherwise be pleased to give you." But you have another boy, who is very careful in all things to do his father's will; and you have marked the earnest desire of his heart to be obedient to you, and you say, "Yes, my dear child, you may have whatever you want. I know that you would not have asked for it if you had not thought that it would be agreeable to my mind; and as you have asked what is suitable for me to give, you may have it, and I am glad to give it to you." So is it in the fatherly discipline of the house of God; if we do those things which are pleasing in his sight, we shall have power to prevail with him in prayer.

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Notice the link between confidence concerning our rightness and power in prayer. When a child has done wrong, and knows it, he cannot run to his father and ask for favors as he used to do; he feels timid in his father's presence because of the sense of his guilt.

But if you and I know that we have endeavored with all our heart to love the Lord and our fellow human beings, and to act righteously in all things, we have a secure confidence which enables us to speak with God as a man speaks with his friend; and God greatly loves this kind of confidence and listens to those who possess it.

Such people may ask what they will of God. They have learned to bring their minds into conformity with the will of God, so the desire of their heart will be granted to them.