Love God Greatly - the Importance of Prayer: Approaching the Throne of GraceSample

Pray with Confidence

Read: Ephesians 3:1–13

SOAP: Ephesians 3:11–12

This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access to God by way of Christ’s faithfulness.

Into the text

In Ephesians chapter 3, Paul offered a prayer for the church in Ephesus. However, the first portion of his prayer, verses 2–13, is somewhat of a rabbit trail. These verses describe the mystery of Christ and how through Him, God’s plan for the redemption of the world has been revealed.

In this explanation, Paul expresses the purpose of what God accomplished in Christ and how now, because of what Christ has accomplished, we have access to God. This access is available through prayer.

The access we have to Christ is not an arrogant kind of boldness. It is not the kind of boldness or confidence someone expresses when they are in charge or have ownership of something. Instead, this boldness and confidence come through humility.

When we understand the work of Christ, our proper response is humility. He has rescued us from death, and we have done nothing to earn it. We can approach God through prayer with boldness and confidence that come from a full understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done. It is a humble boldness, an awareness of all of Christ’s faithfulness and what it has granted us. His faithfulness allows us the freedom to access God. It allows us to come to God at any time with any need. What an incredible blessing!

Prayer

Father God, I praise You for the access You have given me through Christ’s faithfulness. Because of what Jesus has done, I can come to You with my every need and request. Help me be humble before You, approaching You with boldness and confidence because of Christ, not myself. I have done nothing to earn an audience with You, but Christ has done everything. You have given me a great privilege, and Your redemptive work humbles me. In Jesus’ name, amen.