Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
—Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)
Can you approach God with freedom and confidence? Or are you hindered by failures and disappointments and shame? You are the child of a loving God and belong to Him (John 1:12, Ephesians 1:5, 1 Corinthians 6:20). You have unhindered access to your Father with anything (Ephesians 3:18). But if don’t experience the freedom of a relationship with your Father, you haven’t experienced the truth of what Christ has done for you.
The gift of Christ’s life has given you a vast inheritance—all the riches of His glory (Ephesians 1:18) And the gift of His life brings you into the intimate presence of a loving Father who waits patiently for you to know who He is in your life. He wants you to experience His love for you.
As God’s redeemed child, you can freely approach Him with boldness (Ephesians 3:11-12). You have nothing to fear from God (2 Timothy 1:7). His love for you is perfect (1 John 4:18). Your relationship with God is no longer one that fears judgment but knows the merciful Grace of Christ. Jesus took the judgment you once deserved, and now you have a healed heart. God is your Father of mercy waiting with open arms. He is the God of Grace that fills you and completes you (Ephesians 3:19). You don’t have to live a fragmented life with raging emotions and pains and fears. The Word reveals that you are complete in every way in Him (Colossians 2:10). You are whole and healed and free.
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2), NKJV).
When Jesus died for you, He made your relationship right with God. He not only took your sins to the Cross but also your fear of failure—your fear of never being good enough—your shame—and said that you are clean and righteous and a child of His Father. When you believe by faith in the finished work of Jesus, you are justified by His Grace. You have free access to your Abba Father. The truth of your freedom is real, but you have to access that truth by faith. You choose to believe. And when you stand, believing, in that truth, you rejoice in the marvelous hope of His glory!
You have a relationship with God because of Jesus. You have peace with God and peace in your life because of Jesus. There is no reason to doubt God’s love for you or for you to struggle with shame or guilt. Jesus didn’t come into the world to condemn you but to set you free from condemnation (John 3:17). You can go boldly into God’s presence not fearing Him but KNOWING His love (Hebrews 4:16).
You are qualified by Christ to share in His inheritance (Colossians 1:12). What belongs to Him belongs to you. His relationship with His Father is also your relationship. Know who you are in Christ. Pray with freedom and confidence. You don’t have to beg God to hear your petitions. You don’t have to crawl to the Cross. You can run to God in the freedom of His Resurrection life that is yours.
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (I John 5:14-15, NKJV).
© 2021 Lynn Lacher
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