As I prepared for a meeting yesterday my thoughts moved to the way we pray. I am talking about the attitude of our heart, as we approach God which drives the words we speak and how we say them to the Lord.
The writer of Hebrews tells us in chapter 4, verse 16,
Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.
When we consider the words of this verse, let us consider the way we pray. How do we speak to The Lord? Are we full of self-pity, self-loathing, a poor sense of self-worth, complaints about our plight and the people around us? If so, we are full of our selves and our focus is on how everything affects us rather than placing our focus on the Lord and the work of Christ.
Do we pray boldly? This is not the kind of boldness attempting to manipulate God to do what we want (as if we could) but asking for God’s intervention in our circumstance, praying that His purpose be fulfilled and placing ourselves completely, without reservation, in His will to allow ourselves to be transformed into the people He desires.
While we like what this verse states, we cannot take it alone, because it is the completion of the two preceding verses, which say,
Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our confession. For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.
When we come boldly before God, honoring Him, recognizing He calls us to Himself through the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ which He provided; when we revere God for the ever-present, all-knowing and all-powerful God He is, we will then be filled with rejoicing no matter our situation!
When circumstances are difficult our emotions seem overwhelming, so our praise and worship become a sacrificial offering.
Let us always give a sacrifice of praise to God through Jesus. We do it by thanking him for all that he has done and also by talking about him. That is the sacrifice we make with our lips to his name. (Hebrews 13:15)
Speak boldly words of thanksgiving and praise, in prayer and in conversation. When we face the most insurmountable circumstances and choose to worship God for who He is, we are offering to Him our most precious worship.
Our Lord desires to prove Himself in us and through us, in the mundane and in the miraculous, and everything in between!
Are we in a relationship with the Lord that is so close & intimate that we simply step into the recognition of His presence, knowing He knows us and we know Him?
I want to KNOW GOD as He knows me. I want to be wholly and completely His in a way that I am constantly aware of His presence. I want to LIVE HOLY, daily, and HIS GRACE EMPOWERS ME to walk uprightly & holy before Him.
When I wake each morning, I want to awaken with HIS songs in my heart. I want to step into the day knowing the GOD I serve, THE GOD of CREATION, THE GOD of MIRACLES calls me to HIS presence so HE can give to me, this day, EVERYTHING I need!!
I serve THE ONE, TRUE & LIVING, AWESOME GOD!!
May I be bold in my proclamation of HIM and may I pray bold prayers, KNOWING HE WILL ANSWER!
~Leah
