Praying With Power: 12 Lessons: Bible Study Series

“LET US THEREFORE COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.”

Nothing is more disagreeable than a bold child—the kind who will march right up to you and call you by your first name. It’s just too shocking for words. Of course, I was raised in Minnesota, and in the northern reaches, it’s considered most respectful to refer to adults as “Mr. Johnson” or “Mrs. Peterson.” I was only on a first-name basis with my little sister. And so, my children were likewise trained. It didn’t matter if their Sunday school teacher’s last name was a mouthful. With a little coaching, they can manage “Mrs. Kamyszek.”

Then, we moved south, and suddenly the world of politeness took a turn. In this warm and hospitable place, respect has taken on the soft drawls of “Mister Lee” and “Miss Teri.” Even when I tried to stick to the way I was raised, folks would quietly correct me. Nobody wants to be Mr.’d or Mrs.’d in Tennessee. So I am resigned to my children, with a mixture of boldness and respect, calling our friends by their first names—with the appropriate “Miss” and “Mister” tagged on.

To think, they could have called Mrs. Kamyszek “Miss Cathy” down here. It would have been so much easier!

1. The Jews were so fearful of offending God and showing Him the utmost respect, they would not even say His name. On the other hand, Jesus, showing sinless respect at all times, called God Abba, or “Daddy.” How do you tend to think of God? Is there a measure of fear blended with familiarity?

One of the most touching scriptures is Galatians 4:6, in which God says to us, “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out ‘Abba, Father.’ ” The Hebrew word abba means “daddy.” We are reminded that we are never totally fatherless, and in times of quiet despair, we can cry out a prayer like this: “Daddy, oh, Daddy, comfort me, hold me. I so need Your touch. I so need Your tender presence. Be with me, dear Daddy. Let me rest in You, relax in You, and find peace in You.”

Marilyn Meberg

2. Though we are welcomed to call Him our Father and our Friend, God is still to be feared. What does Psalm 33:8 say about God?

3. Let’s look at another description of our loving Heavenly Father. What does James, the brother of Jesus, point out about God in James 2:19?

4. Solomon, in all his great wisdom, boiled down the purpose of the human race in Ecclesiastes: “Fear God and keep His commandments. For this is man’s all” (Eccl. 12:13, NKJV). God specifically required fear from His people. What did He ask of them in Deuteronomy 10:12–13?

Have you ever attempted to get in touch with God and found yourself doubting His ability to help you? Do you find yourself worrying about things you should tell God about instead? Do you feel ashamed to talk to God? Do you find yourself seeking other people’s opinions rather than relying on God’s guidance? Do you think you have to use a certain posture or language to get God’s attention? Do you think you’ve done something so awful you can’t tell God? If your answer is yes to any of those questions, you’re creating unnecessary interference between you and God. Nothing can keep you from being directly connected to God if you want to be.

Thelma Wells

5. Boldness is not the same as arrogance. God waits for the prayers of a humble heart. How does Ezra refer to himself when he speaks to God? His prayer is found in Ezra 9:6.

6. Isaiah pleads for mercy: “Oh, don’t be so angry with us, Lord. Please don’t remember our sins forever” (Is. 64:9, NLT). According to Acts 8:22, what must a Christian do in order to restore a right relationship with the Lord?

7. First Kings 8:30 and 2 Chronicles 7:14 are two very good examples of the fact God has been showing mercy to sinners for centuries now. What does God ask of the confessor? What does God promise to do if these conditions are met?

Remember when Crayola^™ markers started coming out in special color combinations? You could still buy the classic colors of the rainbow, but there was also the option of purchasing a package of all pastel colors, or a package designated “bold.” Are you a pastel package kind of gal? Or do you like to let loose with the bold set of markers? I’ve known both kinds of people.

I have a basket at my tubside filled with cleaning utensils: sponges, brushes, loofahs, pumice, and soaps. As helpful as these items are, they do not compare to how clean I feel when I have spent moments in the Lord’s presence, especially when I begin with a confession time.

Patsy Clairmont

One sweet lady I know looks like a watercolor painting—soft blue eyes, porcelain skin, blonde hair that’s almost white. Everything she loves would have to have the word “light,” “pale,” “soft,” or “icy” put in front of its color. She drives a powder blue car. Her bedroom walls could be described as “whisper of lilac.” Her world is quiet, and she collects Precious Moments figurines.

Then, there’s this guy I went to college with. He wore such vividly colored shirts that they easily earned the adjective loud. Before they were ever stylish, he was wearing colors which made people squint. One shirt had comic strips on it, another had sunglasses scattered over it. I think I remember a shirt with planets and stars on it. He had the most outrageous taste. But his style suited his outgoing personality and quirky sense of humor. He played the saxophone, and gathered a wide circle of friends.

Whatever your color preference might be, Jesus has invited you to come into the hush of His Father’s throne room with all the boldness of a loud shirt. He won’t be startled. You are there at His Son’s invitation. And whether you’re wearing icy pink or tangerine, He sees you robed in righteousness.

I can still picture my mom using a washboard to deal with tough stains on my dad’s work clothes. Our Heavenly Father doesn’t have to haul out a washboard when He sees our stubbornly stained hearts. We enter the inner room when we plead the blood of Jesus, and our filthy sins become as white as snow in His presence (and that, my friends, is better than a Good Housekeeping seal of approval).

Patsy Clairmont

8. Having been forgiven, we are welcomed into the very courts of heaven. What does the writer of Hebrews 4:16 say we will obtain there?

9. We may tremble in the face of God’s greatness, but we can also have confidence in our welcome. David had confidence in God’s faithfulness in keeping His word. And his trust affected his prayers: “O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer because You have revealed that you will build a house for me—an eternal dynasty!” (2 Sam. 7:27, NLT). Do you have boldness when you pray? What kinds of assurances has God made to you? Let’s take a look:

God is always on duty in the temple of your heart, His home. You needn’t be stiff and formal when you pray. Simply make yourself cozy in the old rocking chair of trust, pulling the afghan of faith around you, and then talk to God.

Barbara Johnson

In the presence of God’s holiness, men fell to the ground, hid their faces, and cried out in fear. Why? Here are some verses which shed light on their holy terror. As you consider these verses, realize that the very God who makes the earth tremble with dread is the God who loves you completely, provided for your salvation, and calls you His own.

Pray this prayer after Paul. Rewrite it in your own words, applying it to your own heart.

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future He has promised to those He called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance He has given to His people.—Ephesians 1:18, NLT

Whenever I think of boldness, I think of the old saying “bold as brass.” So your trinket for the week is a little brass button. God deserves your respect, to be sure. But the Father has assured you your welcome is secure. There is no fear for God’s own child to come before His throne. So, trust God to be true to His word, and find yourself ushered into the very throne room of heaven when you pray.