Thinking on Thursdays – The “Why” of Prayer

 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrew 4:16 NKJV

Today’s audio has some added explanations and a prayer at the end that is not in the written portion of the blog.

To pray or not to pray? That is the question.

Where did you learn to pray? How did you learn to pray? Why do you pray? If prayers are the veins and arteries of our lives connecting us to the heart of our Father, then we can’t live one moment without this ebb and flow of His presence and engagement in our lives. We are, of course, encouraged to “pray without ceasing”.

Like children, we learn to speak by listening and mimicking others. The disciples understood this principle when they watched Jesus. One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1. Notice they understood that John’s disciples had been taught and now they wanted to learn how Jesus stayed connected to His father.

This blog entry is not about the how-to of prayer, but rather the why-and way of prayer. If you struggle with the how-to, seek out someone and ask to pray with them.

Remember, prayer toward God is primarily vocalized. Not necessarily with volume, but spoken. Listening to God’s response is training the ear of faith. When your faith ear hears the voice of the Holy Spirit – response is needed, either verbal or written. For example, “Father, did you just tell me that you love me? I don’t know why you would say that to me, but I receive it and thank you that you do.” Notice, I spoke what I heard God was saying and then interacted with that thought.

Our verse today reveals part of the “why” we pray. Let’s break it down.

• Let us therefore come –
  • People may ask what part they play in the Christian journey? We are encouraged to “come”. You can’t stay where you are and also be coming toward God at the same moment.
  • The reality is we understand pursuing the world, entertainment, money, fame, relationships, pleasures, FaceTime, TikTok, and endless conversations. But pursuing God?
  • How much time and effort do you spend in the “coming” toward God? There is a wonderful promise God gives for all who seek – come. “If you seek Me, you will find Me.”
  • Don’t worry about how much time is needed to seek Him (although how much time do you think the saviour and lover of your soul deserves?).
  • Just start – coming – and your relationship will deepen for longer walks and talks with Him.
• Boldy to the throne of grace–
  • the throne is the place of power and authority where justice is administered. In America we have an oath we speak at the witness chair next to the judge. “Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?” I do. Before God there is nowhere to hide. No excuses. No deflection. No pointing of fingers to say it was somebody else’s fault. God is judge.
  • Why on earth would I want to enter God’s throne room with boldness?
  • Because of the finished sacrificial work of Jesus on my behalf, we approach our righteous Father. His blood covers our wickedness. His blood makes us clean. Only His blood allows us access to this throne.
  • His blood creates a DNA adoption so that we approach as a child of the king instead of a criminal ready for judgment. Children can approach their good, good Father at all times.
• Obtain or recieve mercy
  • The NKJV uses the word obtain, because the root carries the idea of reaching to take a hold of something, rather the passively being given. 
  • When we come to God in prayer, even boldly as His child, we come humbly first to receive mercy.
  • We allow the Holy Spirit to clean us up. This would, of course, include our actions that revealed our sinful pursuits as well as our thoughts we believed to be hidden from judging others.
  • Confessing that God is right and I was wrong allows the stamp of the mercy of forgiveness to be placed over my heart.
  • Yes, Jesus has forgiven us of all of our sins, but confessing keeps wiping the dirt off of our hands, mouth, clothing and mind.
• Find grace
  • The greek word for find is used 176 times in the New Testament. Once was lost but now is found. Seek Me and you find me.
  • Grace is the crux of the “why” of prayer. Grace reminds us that he who is forgiven much loves much.
  • Grace embraced helps us pray and really know that God is listening.
  • Grace is the aroma tha draws us nearer and nearer to the love of God.
  • Grace is the link of dependency of the knowledge that God will never, ever leave us.
  • Grace is the faith component that God will address the issues we have brought before Him.
  • Grace lets us linger on our Daddy’s lap for no other reason than it just feels right to be in that place.  Remember Peter wanted to build some tents to hang out in the glory of the transfiguration. Grace is comfortable with our desire for prolonged habitation with God.
• In our time of need
  • Grace given to us is the motivation of “why” we continually come back to the throne.
  • Our having needs reveals our humanity, our frailty, our weakness.  This is not a disqualifier, rather it IS why we come.

Even though at this moment, so much of our time has been wasted, and prayer has been neglected. Today is the day of God’s salvation. Approach – Come – get after it – MOVE toward God in prayer today. His throne is open to His children. His ear is attentive and His voice is kind. Our Father says to each of us, “Come, My child! I am here”.

Blessings, Love y’all