Today's Devotion - 1 John 3:21-22 (NIV): 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.

The relationship between us and God is a reciprocal one. It is similar to that between a father and a son, or a father and a daughter. God shows His love by giving us what we ask for, while we show our love by doing that which pleases Him. It explains to us why we pray and that God answers our prayers.

Today's Comments: I think that the flip-side to this verse and the commentary above is that when we don't do that which pleases God, then we may not receive answer our prayers. Does that me he punishes us? Perhaps, but I don't really take it that way. I think that it is more the fact that when we are disobedient, we fail to listen. And, if we fail to listen, we fail to hear God's answer to our prayers. God may not give us all that we ask; instead, He gives us all that we need. And, if we fail to fully acknowledge our need for a relationship with Him, that relationship becomes broken, and communication can become seriously impaired.