Our Father

Hebrews 4:16  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.


Grace.  Mercy.  Help.  It's too bad we can't see in the natural what's going on in the spiritual when we pray.  If we could actually see the throne of grace as we drew nearer, how our hearts would be changed!  In the presence of the glory and majesty of God our Father, in his throne room, we can stand with boldness and confidence and courage.  We can stand in the knowledge that we are welcomed, embraced and loved.  Our Abba is waiting lovingly for us to draw near.  God, the Creator of the universe, is our Abba - our Papa; we are children of the living God who, like all loving fathers, deeply desires for his children to spend time with him.  He wants to hear what's on our hearts, our worries and fears, our problems, the thing we've done wrong and the help we need to keep from further wrongs. Furthermore, in Hebrews we are told of the awesome gift we have through Jesus: Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb. 7:25)

I am blessed to have very dear friends who are mighty prayer warriors.  I can recall many times when I've called asking for prayer and they'd already been interceding.  The Holy Spirit had whispered to their hearts that a friend was in need; my faithful sisters had been praying.  That's the gift we have in and through Jesus.  Jesus sees clearly, knows all things, is working his purposes and plans in our life and is interceding in and with his holy, omniscient, perfect love.


This is the throne of grace to which we draw near.  We find mercy.  We experience God's grace.  We receive his help in our time of need.  Again and again.  God's mercies are new every morning; great is his faithfulness!  Great is his love!  We can be bold and confident as we approach God's throne because he is so loving.  He IS love - pure, perfect, holy love.  There is no fear in the presence of God's love, no condemnation, no shame.  Even - especially - in our sinfulness, we can stand in the presence of LOVE and find mercy, forgiveness, healing and grace.


Yesterday was Father's Day.  we celebrated and remembered the fathers or father-figures in our life.  In thinking about the love of our earthly fathers, let's look to our heavenly Father, whose love knows no bounds, is perfect, without sin or favoritism, and is eternal. Our loving earthly fathers are (were) flawed but we can allow their love to point to the One who is perfect. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:9-11)


Bring your worries, cares, anxieties, sins, questions - your deepest heart's desires - and go boldly into the presence of your Abba. Sit with him, open your heart. He hears, he loves, he is merciful and good.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  (Ephesians 3:20-21)