Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 John 5:15

"and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him." — 1 John 5:15 (ASV)

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

That is, before we actually receive the answers to our petitions.

After the prayer of faith, we know that our request has been granted, and we act upon the belief that we have already received what we asked of God.

A trustworthy person's promise is as good as its performance; we unhesitatingly accept a promissory note, or a promise to pay, when we know that it is drawn upon a reliable firm. We treat it as money; it passes from hand to hand, through the bankers, and is regarded as if it were the coin itself.

Then, should we not treat our God in this way when we have His promise to pay or to give? We have pleaded it in prayer; so, let us rise from our knees, not merely hoping that we shall receive what we have asked, but believing that we shall surely have it:

If we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.