Many people are naturally timid. They don’t seem to be bold about anything. The definition of boldness is a willingness to take risks and act innovatively. To have confidence or courage in the face of possible danger. Where does your boldness show itself? Moms are usually bold in things concerning their children. Yet most are not bold when approaching the Holy God, and the creator of the universe.
The Bible tells us in Ephesians 3:12, we are to have boldness when we come before the Lord. This word boldness, parrēsian in the Greek language, means properly the boldness of speaking. The idea is that we can come to God with “freedom of utterance” because of Jesus. He paved the way and opened the door for us to talk directly to God. We do not need a priest or any other man. We have direct access to God. In Hebrews 4:16, we can come directly to God.
Ephesians 3:12 “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
We should be so grateful that we can come to God, as a child goes to a father. Not timid and shy, but respectful with boldness. Jesus gave us access to His Father and now He is our Father! The faith that we have in Jesus and what he did for us, gives us the confidence we need to approach the throne of grace for mercy in His name. It is a boldness that is not rash, and it is a faith that is not presumptuous, but it allows us to come to God without hesitating. When we come to Him in prayer we know that he will hear us. Sometimes we talk to people and wonder if they heard a word we said. Were they daydreaming or misunderstanding what we said, or did they hear and comprehend? If we have given our heart to God through Jesus, we don’t have to worry about misunderstanding or not being heard. He hears and knows the intent of our hearts.
I love that I serve a God who is all-powerful, and yet he welcomes me to come into His presence. When I’m weary He says to come unto Him.
Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
When I have cares of this world I am to take all my cares to Him first, not after I have exhausted all other resources, but first. He offers us access to Him. He wants all our cares to be taken to Him and leave them with Him. He will sustain us and take care to supply all our needs.
I Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
His desire is for us to take our burden to him. Not to talk to everyone else about what is bothering us. While that may make us feel better to talk to someone it doesn’t change our circumstances. We must also remember that it may be His design for us to go through something that seems horrible, to make us more like Him. However, it is through our casting it upon God that changes our situation and helps us to bear it.
Psalm 55:22 “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
He also doesn’t want us to be anxious about anything. He wants us to share our anxieties with Him and trust Him about the things that make us anxious. When we completely trust he will give us peace. He tells us in Philippians 4:6 to bring our problems and desires to Him in prayer.
Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful about nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
We are to go to God for everything! We are to approach Him with a thankful heart, and we can do all of this with boldness! You have a great High Priest who wants you to come to him with boldness and confidence in Him.
