9/22/20 - PRAYING WITH CONFIDENCE

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 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 ‭4:14-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do you approach your prayer life? Do you skip into Daddy’s presence or do you drag yourself into the throne room? Are you excited about the transparency you share with Him, knowing there’s nothing between you, even though you may have just blown it again? As children of our Heavenly Father, nothing should ever prevent us from coming boldly to His presence. Whether we come confessing a known sin or simply to worship Him, we should still come with confidence.

We never cease being His children, no matter what. He delights in our childlikeness. He takes pleasure in an authentic relationship with us. We never need to pretend with Him, because He already knows everything, still He bids us to come. That’s why it’s called the “throne of grace” a place where mercy flows freely. But, we must approach Him with confidence in who He is and what He’s promised.

James the brother of Jesus wrote these words, as someone who did not embrace the divinity of his half brother at first.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” James 1:5-8

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What he’s saying here is, pray from a place of confidence. To approach prayer in any other way is to be double minded, which produces instability, lowers our expectation of ever receiving what we’ve asked for, and prevents or ties the hands of God from moving on our behalf. Think of your last prayer “meeting” with God. How did you approach Him and how did you leave? How would you rate your time with your Heavenly Father? If you went in burdened did you leave lighter? If you went in sad, did you leave joyful? The psalmist says in His presence is FULLNESS of JOY! Psalm 16:11. How you enter is important, but how you exit is doubly as important as well.

If you went in with the faith of a child, no doubt you left with the excitement and a confident expectation of a child. Children thrive on promises made and promises kept. Our Heavenly Father is very aware of this trait, He wired us to believe grown ups. You literally have to teach a child to doubt. The difference between our ability to keep our word and God is, He has a track record of promises made promises kept. If He says “I Will” you can take it to the bank. This is why He invites us to come boldly, He knows there’s no need too great or small that He cannot meet.

We just need to change our approach.

There’s another hindrance to praying with confidence. Guilt. If we fail to accept God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ, we will have a difficult time in our prayers. Satan, the accuser, likes to remind us of our shortcomings, but this is why knowing the Word is important. He’s never going to stop berating us, but we must have confidence in the finished work of Jesus. We are forgiven. No matter how often we blow it, we have been forgiven. The apostle John says, “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. 1John 1:9 we can pray with confidence. If you find yourself struggling to pray, Stop and reevaluate your approach. Do you have confidence in Jesus’ finished work on your behalf? Do you have unconfessed sin in your life? Are you spending time in your sword (Bible)? Thats the only language God and Satan understands. Remember what James said about being double minded? And what Jesus did in Luke 4?

We can’t ever approach God from a place of fear, a place of defeat, but always from a place of sure footed confidence. Jesus was successful as a man because He never approached His Father from a place of doubt. He prayed “I know you always hear Me” John 11:41-44. That should always be our approach.

I know He’s God. But begin embracing Him

as Father, Abba, Daddy God. There’s maybe some in my audience who didn’t have a great experience with your earthly father, or had no interaction at all. But if you have received the free gift of salvation through His Son then Go ahead, call Him Father. Say it until you feel the warm embrace of His loving presence. I had to do this with my daughter. You’ll discover that even if you had a good relationship with your dad, his love pales in comparison. There’s no love like His. My daughter has the most beautiful relationship with her Abba. It’s glorious to watch all the ways He’s loved and is loving on her. His gentle care and admonition, His loving corrections and instructions, teaching her things I could not as a mom.

Praying with confidence comes from a place of knowing who your Father is.

Go deeper, He’s everything the Bible says He is. But go deeper. Take it from the pages to the deep recesses of your heart and soul. Praying is more than asking it’s also about receiving. It’s a dialogue between friends, intimate friends. There’s no darkness in the throne room, only light. No need for secrets, that’s the place where we can be naked and unashamed. Pour your love out like Mary with her alabaster box of expensive perfume. Your prayers and your worship are of greater worth. Just learn to receive from Him. It’s a place of favor. A place of mercy and forgiveness. Go in and leave everything, all of you there. And walk away lighter, more fulfilled, more confident, more assured. Assured of Daddy’s love.

Are you ready to pray? He’s waiting to respond.

I love you Lord! And I lift my voice to worship You, O my soul rejoice! Take joy my King in what you hear, may I be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.🎼 Abba Father, what a joy to know that I can approach you with confidence in Jesus’ finished work. To know that my Elder Brother intercedes for me before I even enter the Throne Room of your grace. Thank you for loving me warts and all. I’m blessed to have a Father like You. In Jesus Name. Amen

Written by permission of the Holy Spirit

W. Tennant