Praying Boldly...Chapter 5

Today much of society's advances come about through the old saying "it's not what you know but WHO you know." In job interviews, school placements, advancements even social acceptance it is often aided by who we know. Their position and reputation can get us access to events and even people.

When we pray boldly, we pray not in our own confidence and identity, but on Christ's. In the book "Praying Backwards" Mr. Chapell explains " Our identity as sinful creatures, alienated from the Father has forever been eclipsed by our union with the son He loves."

Ephesians 2:13-22
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."

"We are now "in Christ" at the same time that He is in us. Through this on-going union, Jesus provides His righteousness for our sin, His strength for our weakness and His relationship with the Fatter to replace our alienation."

So we now have the privileges that are Christ's as the Father's Son. With that privilege and honor comes freedom to enter God's Throne of Grace and speak to the One who rules sovereignly over all things. Mr. Chapell mentions "types" of prayers that can now distinguish us as Christians.

1) Imposing Prayer. Prayer that can come at all hours and at all times. Prayer that has absolute assurance of our Father's care and do not hesitate to ask with confidence that He hears.

2) Pervasive Prayer. Mr. Chapell puts it this way "Despite the Bible's assurance that God listens to us...we may still be hesitant to pray. We avoid prayers that seem to impose on God, either because we perceive Him as harsh or because we perceive Him as so good that it seems ungrateful to ask more. Jesus addresses both concerns. He teaches us to pray for matters large and small without fearing that our prayers will offend the Father." It is important to remember that God is more interested to hear from us than to grade our prayers. We can now pray concerning great matters or small matters.

He ends the chapter "The confidence that we express in such bold prayer is not in the answer we desire but in God. " Again we can boldly and confidently petition God to be God. We can't presume to direct God's thoughts or actions as a due response to our prayers. But we can confidently and boldly ask to reveal His power and perfect will to us. We pray for strength to persevere, to find joy, to exalt the cross and to rest that His divine plan will work out for our eternal good.