Read His Words Before Ours!
Hebrews 4
Matthew 7:7-11
1 John 5:14-15
Ephesians 3:20-21 
At the time of this writing, we are saying goodbye to our son. Our foster son. He’s been in our home for about four months. Though we are sad to see him go, I believe that, as the next chapter unfolds for him, it will be an amazing story of God’s grace and faithfulness. (We became foster parents several years ago and most of the stories don’t leave us with the happy-ending feeling. I’m so thankful this one has!) Through the years of fostering, I’ve witnessed an interesting dynamic that I couldn’t have fully understood if I hadn’t seen it firsthand. Most foster children have a great deal of insecurity about asking for something. When they first come into our home, they have little assurance about their position in our family. Almost none of them walk in assuming we’ll joyfully meet their needs. Low expectations have become their default.
In our family, our children made requests. In fact, they typically ask for things from us with confidence – even when they had been misbehaving – because they’ve learned that for us to withhold what they needed went against our character as loving parents. Because of their life experiences, fosters do not have much trust that they will have their needs met, and often don’t ask for what they need. When they do ask, it’s with hesitation and fear that their request will be criticized or rejected completely.
I’m sad to admit that this scenario is much like my prayer life.
I approach God with low expectations.
But walking on eggshells to the throne of grace is not what God desires.
Being on my best behavior for an entire day is not a prerequisite for coming to God in confidence.
I am accepted and loved because of the Father heart of God.
But too often we approach praying as if we are foster children. We sheepishly tiptoe into God’s presence and mumble our requests, almost certain we aren’t going to receive an answer. The writer of Hebrews reminded the people to have confidence in God’s provision because He would never abandon them. (Hebrews 13:5-6) When we enter the Throne Room of the Father’s amazing grace, we don’t need to pray as if we are His foster children. As those who have been baptized into Christ’s life, we are adopted! (Galatians 3).
He has invited us into His family and we have all the benefits of being one of His own!
Approaching God with boldness doesn’t mean we come to Him arrogantly. Jesus taught the disciples that prayer starts with acknowledging the greatness of the Father and our desperate need for Him. Our prayer posture should always be one of humble boldness. (Don’t you love the scripture’s paradox!) James tells us “if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand.” I have a good, good Father who desires to give me good things.
If I am a child of the One who really hears and wants to answer me,
why do I continue to pray wimpy prayers, half believing and half doubting?
It must be because I lack confidence in Who He is.
Our God is not a temporary foster dad.
It’s our spiritual birthright to pray with confidence in our God’s ability to intervene in any situation. He desires for us to pray with boldness and courage, not because we have it all together, but because He holds it all together!
One definition of bold is: beyond the usual limits of conventional thought or action.
We are the daughters of a limitless God
who “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to HIS power that is at work within us.”
Praying brave prayers demonstrates that we have faith in a gracious and generous Father.
THAT’s the kind of praying I want to practice!
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