Boldness In Our Prayer Life

"The fewer the words, the better the prayer. To have prayed well is to have studied well."   -Martin Luther

I would like to pose some questions to you. Have you ever needed the help of another person as you faced the opportunities and responsibilities of life? Have you ever made an appeal for help in a time of need? If you need medical attention and treatment, do you approach a physician with an attitude of hesitancy or with a spirit of confidence and boldness?

If you need a loan, do your approach your banker with fear and trembling, with great hesitation, or with a degree of confidence and boldness? On what basis do your make your appeal to others for their assistance? Do you ever try to buy their favor? Do you seek to bargain with them? Have you ever tried to intimidate someone into assisting you?

What kind of an attitude do you have when you approach God in prayer in your time of need? With feelings of unworthiness? With great hesitancy? Do you seek to bargain with God? Do you give up in despair and make no attempt to communicate with God?

The writer of the book of Hebrews (Hebrews 4:14-16) tells us to practice a confident boldness when we come before God's throne of grace in prayer. This may be shocking at first glance. How bold are you in your prayer life? How confident are that God is going to hear and answer your prayer?

When it comes to the practice of bold praying, we don't have to look very far for an excellent example.Our Lord was bold in his prayer life. He was in constant communication with the heavenly Father, and there was no friction between his will and God the Father's will.

A study of Christian history will reveal that great men and women of  God have always been bold in their prayer life. Without hesitancy they entered into the throne room of the eternal, bringing their praises, petitions, and expressions of thanks. Yet others have practiced bold praying that has proved to be ineffective. We need to avoid this type of bold praying.

Here are some words of encouragement: Let's avoid a bold prayer life like that of the proud Pharisee who recited complimentary things about himself (Luke 18:9-12). Let's avoid the bold praying of the hypocrite who gave himself to public prayer in order to impress others with his piety (Matthew 6:1-2,5). Allow me to clarify; Jesus is not prohibiting praying in public. Rather he is declaring that people who pray in public to impress others are merely putting on a performance that will not bring the blessings of God into their lives.

Let's also avoid the long and persuasive prayers of the pagan who labors under the impression that by beautiful empty phrases and constant repetition God's reluctance can finally be worn down (Matthew 6:7-8). If we pray in God's will, he is not reluctant to answer our prayers.

The inspired writer of Hebrews encourages us to come boldly before the throne of grace because of Christ's nature. It is through him and in him that we have the privilege of prayer. Many words of encouragement toward being bold in prayer can be found in the teachings of our precious Lord.

I have included a few examples for you, as follows: Jesus made the assumption that we would want to communicate with our Father God (Matthew 6:6). Jesus invited his disciples to pray (Matthew 7:7-8). He made the observation that those who asked, received. He illustrates this with the example of a human father responding to the needs of his children (Matthew 7:9-11).

The example of Jesus should encourage us to pray. Our Lord made much of prayer in his personal life. Something about his prayer experience caused his apostles to hunger for a similar experience with God. When they requested his help, he responded by teaching them how to pray effectively (Luke 11:1-4).

Finally, the nature of our Lord himself should be the greatest encouragement for boldness in our prayer life (Hebrews 4:14-16). He understands and suffers with us in our needs, and he is able to help us.

Scripture: John 15:7; Mark 11:24; Philippians 4:6; Romans 8:26; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18; Luke 18:1; James 5:16; 1 Timothy 2:8

Prayer: We thank you, Lord Jesus, that you have risen from the dead and won victory over the powers to save us from our sin. We praise you for our salvation, and ask for grace to praise you with our whole lives. Amen

God bless you,

Jessica