Pray with Boldness and Confidence

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16)

Jesus Christ is our merciful and faithful High Priest Who has empathy for our weaknesses since Christ incarnate was tempted just as we are. In His humanity, Christ was familiar with our needs, temptations, and problems. Satan tempted Him in the wilderness but He didn't succumb to the temptation; He did not sin. He overcame each temptation with God's Word. We don't have to sin when facing temptations, either. Christ understands what we're going through and He cares. He is able to help us. "Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted." (Hebrews 2:18) "The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one." (2 Thessalonians 3:3) God is faithful to provide a way out when we're facing temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). We just need to take it. 

Jesus Christ is also our Advocate (1 John 2:1), the Best Defense Attorney in the universe, who is always interceding for us. Because of Christ's atonement for the sins of the people, God's throne of grace is always accessible to us. Because of Christ (and His righteousness imputed upon us, we have a permanent, lifetime VIP pass/access to the throne of God. How awesome it is! We can now enter boldly into the presence of God with our petitions. Pray with boldness and confidence. Pray with humility and reverent submission. We can pour our hearts out to our Heavenly Father at His throne of grace (this is not a throne of justice or judgment) and receive His mercy and grace to help us in time of need. I believe we are continually in need of God's grace and mercy (undeserved favor and pardon); that's why we are to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Need strength to resist temptation? Pray. Need relief from affliction? Pray. Need wisdom and discernment? Pray. Need any help? Pray. 

Pray first and pray most. Let's take full advantage of this amazing privilege God has given us! Even though we know His will prevails and He already knows all our needs, God desires that we come to Him in prayer because it's a relationship thing. "The purpose of prayer is that we get a hold of God, not of the answer." (Oswald Chambers) He wants us to rely on Him, look to Him for fresh supplies of grace & mercy to sustain us, strengthen us, and keep us to the end, and keep our hearts and mind focused on Him...on His purpose.  We find shelter, rest, comfort, strength, joy, peace, encouragement, and assurance in sweet communion with our Father. Our attitude regarding praying should always be "not my will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42b). Praying draws us closer to God, and through prayer, God molds our heart's desires and our thoughts to be like His. Let us be thankful that God's answers are always wiser than our prayers!

"Prayer does not take our trials away--but it puts our life into the hands of God--so that in His keeping, we shall be kept from harm while we pass through our trials. It brings God's grace into our heart--to preserve us from falling into sin; and God's strength into our life--that we may be victorious over our enemies. Not to pray as we go into the day's dangers and trials--is to meet them without the help of Christ, and surely to suffer hurt, and possibly to fall into sin!" (J.R. Miller)

"Prayer should be...constant, fervent, believing, hopeful, and incessant. God loves it, Satan hates it, and every true Christian values it. True prayer is always necessary, profitable and acceptable to God." (James Smith)

"Be thou content to leave thy prayer in His hands, Who knows when to give, and how to give, and what to give, and what to withhold." (Charles H. Spurgeon)

Prayer: Abba Father, I'm so thankful that I can come to You anytime, anywhere and tell you about anything. I'm so glad that You never get tired of listening to my prayers and that You're always available. Please continue to transform my heart and mind, my desires and will to be like Yours. Thank You for being my Refuge, Strength, and Ever-present Help in time of need! Thank You for Your inexhaustible grace and mercy in my life! Please enable me to overcome any temptation and emerge from any trials victorious. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.