“Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help coming just when we need it.]”
Hebrews 4:16 AMPC
Grace Perspective:
Fearless, confident, bold. Words the writer of Hebrews uses to describe how a redeemed child of God is to approach the throne of grace. Fearless, because perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:18) Confident, because Christ paid the penalty for our sin. (1 Corinthians 1:30) Boldly, because we are co-heirs with Christ. (Hebrews 6:17)
How are we to pray? Prayers that are not light or thoughtless words, but purposeful petitions that knit our hearts to the One who formed them. We can come with hearts seeking forgiveness, comfort, mercy, peace, kindness, compassion, and help for any need. We can come because Christ, our merciful Mediator, shed His blood to purify us from sin. The sin that held us in bondage and kept us from coming to the throne of grace. But Christ, our Savior, gives us the confidence to approach Him without fear. He is merciful and gracious, providing help when we ask.
Help, we all need it. Where can we go to find the help we need, knowing it will come at just the right time, in just the right way, just as we need it? We go with confidence to the throne of grace. Believing that Christ will give us mercy and grace in precisely the right measure for all we need.
A touch of grace:
WHere Are you confident?
How do you approach prayer?
Grace Application:
However, before we get too casual about coming into God’s presence, let’s check our hearts. Before we enter the throne room, we need to remember Who we are approaching. Have we laid aside our pride, unforgiveness, bitterness, and unbelief? Is our heart humbly submissive, seeking God’s will while making our requests?
Please don’t think I’m saying we have to be perfect before coming to God in prayer. None of us is perfect; we all sin and fall short of God’s glory. However, we need to be sure of where our confidence is placed. If we are confident in ourselves, our own goodness, and our own good works, we miss the point of grace. Grace is a gift given without us deserving it. Our confidence is not in what we bring to God, but what God brings to us. His Son, our Savior.
Our prayers don’t have to be pretty words, but words that come from a heart the desires grace. I love to pray from the Psalms. They aren’t all sweet words that sound pleasant, but many are guttural cries from wounded, weak, weary, and worn souls. Our prayers aren’t judged by how they sound. No, Christ fulfilled the law on the cross, so our prayers are heard through the filter of grace.
Today, I pray that each of us will be freed from the bondage of self-confidence to live courageously. May we draw near to the throne of grace, boldly, fearlessly, confidently, believing that Christ will give us mercy and help. May our confidence be in His grace, which provides help for every need.
Prayer:
Gracious Father, Your grace is unfathomable. Thank you for this passage that tells us we can confidently come to You because Christ came to save us from our sin. Forgive me for not always believing that Christ’s gift of grace is all I need to come to You for help. I come to You now, confident in Christ, asking You for help with (________________________). I know that You will supply all I need for this, and I trust that Your help will come at just the right time in just the right measure. In the precious name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Amen.