The Beloved Disciple wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st John chapter 5:
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His Will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
The Amplified Version provides additional clarity:
14 This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence (and boldness) which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us.
When your confidence increases, at some point, you will have boldness. I believe this is a core issue with receiving answers to prayer in my life and maybe yours. I look back at the answers (or lack thereof) of my prayers and must assess what was wrong when I saw no results. I know that FATHER is not the issue… I am the issue. We must be open with ourselves to making such an assessment.
Peter is a great example of what I am trying to convey.
Consider the following excerpts from Peter’s first sermon with boldness on the Day of Pentecost as The Holy Spirit filled the disciples who had congregated in one place:
Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2:
12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.
Peter who had denied Christ, was now restored and spoke with boldness. He had absolute confidence in the Word of GOD. He boldly addressed the crowd who had no idea what just happened.
29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely (and plainly) to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
Suddenly, Peter is willing to speak freely and with total confidence!
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
40 And with many other Words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”
41 Then those who gladly received his Word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
After Peter had healed the lame man, the Sanhedrin wanted to prevent the spread of the ekklesia.
Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 4:
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
Our boldness has nothing to do with our past expertise, it is all about the full confidence in Our Lord Jesus Christ and the ministry of The Holy Spirit. Peter and John were vessels as you and I are. We must not allow the cares of the world to impede our progress in becoming bold and confident in walking out the commands of Our Lord Jesus Christ!