Day 16 – Pray Boldly

Having, therefore, a great high priest who penetrated the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, … Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of his grace. – Hebrews 4:14, 16

But this is what the LORD says, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contends with thee, and I will save thy sons. – Isaiah 49:25

We can approach the throne with confidence because we know that God delights to hear our prayers. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are accepted in Him. We are heard. Let us pray for our children whether natural, adopted or spiritual with all boldness and confidence that God desires to bless them and work in & through them. These hints to help us in our work of intercession – what are they doing for us? Making us conscious of our feebleness in prayer? Thank God for this. It is the very first lesson we need on the way to pray the effectual prayer that avails much. Let us persevere, realizing the value and importance of taking each subject boldly to the throne of grace. The more we pray, the more we learn to pray and how to pray, and to believe in trust, and to expect with increasing hope, confidence, and boldness. Hold fast your assurance: it is at God’s command you to come as an intercessor. Christ will give you grace to pray accordingly.

Every part of the work of God’s church is His work. He must do it. Prayer is the confession that He will work in answer to our prayers of faith; the surrender of ourselves into His hands to let Him work in us and through us. Often the most neglected ministry of the Church is that of intentionally making disciples of Jesus, particularly with our children and youth. Sunday Children’s Church is not a place to simply leave our children so that we can attend worship and serve. Instead it is a place for them to learn, and grow in their knowing of God and His Word, of prayer, and a place of instruction in the principles of following God and His will for their lives. Intercede for the discipleship processes and pathways that are used in our local churches. Pray for the shortage of able disciples who will disciple others, particularly the next generation. God can bring those to us who are impassioned with discipling the youth of our day. We must come to understand how vital it is and how desperately important to the forming of future servant-leaders of our churches who will continue to make disciples. Pray for the hundreds of thousands of qualified teachers, and mentors, that those who know God may be filled with His Spirit, and that they would be passionate about God, and His Word wanting to pass His words, ways and works on to the next generation. Pray for your own church’s discipleship process and pathway. Pray for the salvation of the children. Pray for an outpouring of the Spirit so that our children may be nurtured and instructed while their hearts, souls and minds are receptive to the truth.