Confidence before God

This week I'm going to step away from Murray's book on prayer and share some thoughts about confidence before God.

I heard a young preacher (who is an intercessor) say recently that if he had to put prayer into one word, it would be "confidence." That really struck me and goes well with what Andrew Murray teaches on prayer. When we have confidence before God in prayer, we pray in faith, and it's faith with which He partners in the answering of prayer.

So how do we gain confidence before God?

As believers in Jesus Christ, we know that His blood is our solid ground for confidence before the holy God. Oswald Chambers says, "We are acceptable to God not because we have obeyed, nor because we have promised to give up things, but because of the death of Christ, and for no other reason." But it's possible to have entered into a genuine relationship with God because of Jesus' blood and not live and move and pray with confidence before God as a lifestyle. One major obstacle to this is a mistaken view of God's character and nature and our need for revelation of the Father.

Religion has taught us (me, at least) that God is difficult to please, demanding and impatient with our slowness and weakness as humans. We wouldn't necessarily say it in these words, but our lack of confidence with Him shows that we see Him as Someone like this.

In recent years I've realized how much I've related with God in a Master-servant relationship, or a Boss-worker relationship. Both of these are valid metaphors for our relationship with God, but they aren't the primary relationship that the Scriptures present. As we draw near the end of the age, I believe the Holy Spirit is going to awaken His people to the reality of relating with God as sons of God and the bride of Christ.

As the Holy Spirit fully unveils the Father heart and the Bridegroom heart of God, believers will gain increasing confidence before Him. We will see with greater clarity the extravagance of love and affection that He has for His own. We will understand that He's not an impatient perfectionist who is never satisfied, but rather a kind Father who loves our desire to love and serve Him, even thought it's far from perfect. Even His discipline of us will be seen in the beauty of His unwavering zeal and affection for us. All of this will give us confidence before Him and we will partner with Him in prayer that is filled with faith and assurance that He hears and answers.

I John 2:28 teaches us that this kind of confidence before God comes through abiding in Him, and abiding in and with Him becomes easier as we think rightly about Him.

Years ago I read an article by A.W. Tozer entitled, "God is Easy to Live With." The title says it all! God, the holy all-consuming Fire, is our Father. I'm discovering that the more I dare to believe and receive the truths related to His nature as Father and as Bridegroom, the more I desire to be like Him and to live uprightly before Him. The correct kind of confidence that comes with this understanding creates in me greater motivation and desire to walk humbly with Him and with my brothers and sisters.

Lord, the truth of what You are really like is so beyond our natural ability to receive that we ask You to send Your Spirit afresh upon our hearts and minds to empower us to say "yes!" to You, the real Lord. Come Holy Spirit and continue to reveal the true Jesus and the Father to us as we seek Your face. Fill us with understanding of Your nature so that we stand before You in confidence in prayer and in all areas of our life. Thank You that You want this infinitely more than we do and that You, Jesus, are praying for this! We love You, Lord...