CONFIDENT ACCESS TO GRACE
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 4:16 (NIV)
I remember a time I needed to ask my boss for a big favor. I paced outside their office, rehearsing what I would say. My palms were sweaty. I was so aware of everything I’d done wrong that month. I felt like I had no right to ask for anything. Maybe you’ve felt that way, too, before an important conversation where you felt small and insecure.
Now imagine being invited to walk right into the throne room of the Creator of the universe. Not as a stranger. Not as a servant who might be turned away. But as a dearly loved child. That’s what this verse offers us. Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, the barrier between us and God is gone. The curtain was torn in two.
God doesn’t sit on a throne of judgment waiting to scold us. He invites us to His throne of grace. He knows we are weak. He knows we fail. He isn’t surprised by our needs or our struggles. And He wants us to come to Him with confidence. Not because we are so good, but because Jesus is so good.
This means when we feel overwhelmed, we can come to Him. When we’ve messed up, we can come to Him. When we don’t know what to do, we can come to Him. We don’t have to clean ourselves up first. We don’t have to rehearse our words. We can come just as we are and find exactly what we need.
APPLICATION: What need are you carrying today that you’ve been trying to handle on your own? Bring it to God’s throne of grace right now. Talk to Him with the honesty and confidence of a child talking to a loving parent.
PRAYER: Father, thank You for welcoming me to Your throne of grace. Help me to remember I don’t need to be afraid or ashamed to come to You. I come to You now in my time of need. Thank You for Your mercy and grace, which are always available to me. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?