Grace and confidence

If you feel unworthy to approach God in prayer, stop and read these words: ‘Let us…approach God’s throne of grace with confidence…that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need’ (v. 16 NIV). The word ‘grace’ means ‘undeserved kindness, mercy, favour, and help when you need it’. Notice three important things: 1) When you need grace, you can approach God with complete confidence. Why? Because you’re coming to a throne of grace and mercy, not a throne of judgment. All your sins – past, present, and future – were paid for the moment Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ Satan, whom the Bible calls ‘the accuser’, wants you to feel condemned, guilty, and unworthy to approach God. But the moment you placed your trust in Christ, God clothed you in Christ’s righteousness. Therefore, you can always come to Him with confidence. 2) When you need more grace, pray more. God has all the grace needed to help you, but you must go before His throne and ask for it. A prayerless Christian is a graceless Christian. The Bible says, ‘Grow in grace,’ and if you’re not praying every day, you’re not growing in your spiritual life. So, what’s the answer? Spend more time hanging around the throne that dispenses grace. 3) God’s grace is given based on your need at that moment. He won’t give you tomorrow’s grace until tomorrow, so don’t bother asking for it. But don’t be concerned; the supply of grace you have in Christ will not run out tomorrow – or ever! That means you can’t wear out your welcome by going to the throne of grace too often.