Thoughts for Life: #5 Your Welcome to the Throne

~ Alvin Vandergriend- Access to the throne of God is the foundation of all prayer. All prayers must approach the throne. Every true believer is welcome there. Access to God's throne is an amazing privilege.

The One we approach is the sovereign, all-powerful, holy Ruler of the universe. What a privilege to be welcomed into his presence! (Google image, The Throne Room)

God's throne, we are reminded, is a throne of grace, not a throne of judgment. This means that if we have come into His presence through the blood of Christ, we are acceptable to Him. God doesn't scrutinize us to screen out unworthiness. He extends a hand of welcome.

We are invited to approach with complete confidence. We won't run into a closed door. We Won't have to beg or grovel to get in. God is expecting us. He is glad we have come.

Sometimes when I pray, I like to imagine myself right there in the throne room of heaven. In my mind's eye I see the one upon the throne high and lifted up. His glory fills the room. I see angels all around. It's enough to overpower me with dread, except for one thing: God recognizes me. He knows my name. He looks at me, smiles, and extends a hand of welcome. "Tell me why you have come," he says.

This wonderful welcome is extended to us not because we are so good and worthy in ourselves. The truth is, we deserve to be barred from God's presence because of our sins. But Christ has dealt with our sins and made us acceptable to God. We have been adopted as sons and daughters. We have a place in the royal family.

We can come to the throne with our own concerns. We can also come, as intercessors, with the needs of our families, friends, and neighbors on our hearts.

Lighthouse intercessors regularly talk to God on behalf of their neighbors. One
Lighthouse keeper reported that after she and others had prayed for their neighbors for about a year, neighbors became more friendly, people stopped abusing drugs, two unemployed women found jobs, a father stopped drinking, a woman was miraculously cured, a person was delivered from an evil spirit, several persons came to know Christ, and a Bible study began.

Wow! What was happening in the throne room had a transforming effect on earth!

That's something of what God has in mind by extending his welcome to us. He wants to change us, and he wants to change our world.

*A Lighthouse, as referred to in this devotional, is a person, family, or small group that commits to praying for, caring for, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with their neighbors, co-workers, friends, or family members.

Love to Pray- 40 Day Devotional for Deepening Your Prayer Life by Alvin Vandergriend

Let's pray-

Father, Help us examine how much faith we do have when we pray. May we learn new ways to increase our faith, by listening to, and watching those we believe know how to pray effectively.

Thank You for making Your grace and mercy available for the asking, and for welcoming us into Your throne room. May we receive the unmerited grace You generously offer to us as believers in Christ Jesus.

Help us have the confidence we need to pray effectively for ourselves and others.

We pray this in Christ's holy name. Amen.

Today's Bible verses-

Hebrews 4:16 "Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

1 John 5:14, 15 (NKJV) "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (v. 15) And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."

Quote for today-

~ Lisa Buffaloe- "You may feel as though you are all alone. Nothing could be further from the truth. God’s promises of His presence, His unfailing love, comfort, hope, and peace abound throughout His word. God’s hope, His presence, His love, is with you, even to the end of the age."

Words of wisdom-

There will be opportunities to share our faith with children, either by word of mouth, written in messages and by how we live. Will our witness be true of what we believe about God and the importance of knowing and serving Him with a godly fear? We need to realize that they are watching us, and are making life decisions daily. Will we obey the Lord’s directions to be examples that will draw them to Him? Our influence is very important, as they’re looking for directions, and are watching to see how we handle the Truths given to us over the years.

Today's question:

What makes an effective disciple of Jesus?

Discipleship costs everything. The Lord's first disciples left everything to follow Him. We're required to do the same, committing our all to Him and what He asks us to do. Just because we attend church, doesn't mean that we're His true followers.

The passionate followers of Christ, give Him control of every area of their lives. They lose their lives into His keeping, in order to find ways to serve Him where they are, and in serving Him in what they do. Without this commitment, there is little evidence of loyalty to Him.

Our daily living should reflect our commitment in all that we say and do. Christ's

true disciples will let Jesus govern their lives, so as to honor Him in ways that reflect His Sovereign authority over their lives.

Making disciples by reaching out to others is also to be a part of our lives. Starting with those we live with, are we being real disciples of Christ? Do they see Jesus in us, making us more and more like Him through our daily working through the difficulties by the power of the Holy Spirit?

Let's be authentic disciples of Christ Jesus. May we find others who need to know Him, and make every effort to lovingly win them to Him through what we say, do and are committed to.