How do you approach God in prayer? Boldly or tentatively?
In Hebrews 4, the writer tells us:
"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."
If you are like me, you may feel more tentative than bold much of the time.
Why is that?
One reason may be that we believe we are unworthy. But does God demand perfection before he answers our prayers? Clearly, no. We all have to admit that we fall short of perfection. If the Lord required us all to be super-saints, none of us would ever see answers to prayer.
The writer of Hebrews declares in chapter 4 that we need to hold firmly to what we believe because we have a great high priest in heaven - Jesus Christ - who pleads our case before the Father. He knows we are weak and yet he speaks up for us.
He assures us that we will find grace and mercy in our time of need because he is a gracious God.
But, suppose our prayers don't match up with what God wants. How can we pray confidently if God sometimes says: "No. That is not what I want for you."
That is perhaps a more common reason we are hesitant in prayer. We're not sure our prayers are according to his will.
As I think about this, I remember Jesus' words in Luke 11 about prayer. He calls on us to be persistent and to keep on asking and God will give us what we need.
For me, the key is that God will give us what we need. He knows what we need better than we do.
In fact, Jesus says, God will give us more than any earthly father could - the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Indeed, it is listening to the Holy Spirit that can increase our confidence in prayer.
The Spirit enlightens our minds as to what God wants for us as we read the scriptures. And he arranges meetings and words from friends and drops thoughts into our minds to guide us.
The Book of Acts describes in chapter 10 how God gave Peter a vision that changed his attitude - and the attitude of the young church - towards accepting non-Jews as genuine followers of Jesus. And in Acts 16, the Spirit stopped Paul from going into Asia in a vision.
The great British prayer warrior, George Muller, took major decisions in his orphanages after seeking God's leading through reading the scriptures and listening to the Spirit. He acted once he was convinced of what God wanted.
I need these reminders when I feel twinges of doubt as I pray.
I can pray boldly because God loves me and wants to give me what I need.
In Hebrews 4, the writer tells us:
"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."
If you are like me, you may feel more tentative than bold much of the time.
Why is that?
One reason may be that we believe we are unworthy. But does God demand perfection before he answers our prayers? Clearly, no. We all have to admit that we fall short of perfection. If the Lord required us all to be super-saints, none of us would ever see answers to prayer.
The writer of Hebrews declares in chapter 4 that we need to hold firmly to what we believe because we have a great high priest in heaven - Jesus Christ - who pleads our case before the Father. He knows we are weak and yet he speaks up for us.
He assures us that we will find grace and mercy in our time of need because he is a gracious God.
But, suppose our prayers don't match up with what God wants. How can we pray confidently if God sometimes says: "No. That is not what I want for you."
That is perhaps a more common reason we are hesitant in prayer. We're not sure our prayers are according to his will.
As I think about this, I remember Jesus' words in Luke 11 about prayer. He calls on us to be persistent and to keep on asking and God will give us what we need.
For me, the key is that God will give us what we need. He knows what we need better than we do.
In fact, Jesus says, God will give us more than any earthly father could - the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Indeed, it is listening to the Holy Spirit that can increase our confidence in prayer.
The Spirit enlightens our minds as to what God wants for us as we read the scriptures. And he arranges meetings and words from friends and drops thoughts into our minds to guide us.
The Book of Acts describes in chapter 10 how God gave Peter a vision that changed his attitude - and the attitude of the young church - towards accepting non-Jews as genuine followers of Jesus. And in Acts 16, the Spirit stopped Paul from going into Asia in a vision.
The great British prayer warrior, George Muller, took major decisions in his orphanages after seeking God's leading through reading the scriptures and listening to the Spirit. He acted once he was convinced of what God wanted.
I need these reminders when I feel twinges of doubt as I pray.
I can pray boldly because God loves me and wants to give me what I need.
