“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.“
Hebrews 4:15-16
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September 30, 2025
The first “means of grace” that we’ll look at together is prayer. What is prayer to you? How were you taught to pray, and how do you practice prayer now?
I suspect most of us sway back and forth between using prayer as a profound expression of vulnerable dependence on the God we cannot see and yet have entrusted with our lives and souls—and an effort to control uncontrollable forces by trying really hard to get God to do what we want Him to do so that we can avoid the suffering and anxiety of life.
Ultimately, in prayer, we come before God’s throne of grace.
Can we take a moment to sit with this? In prayer, we come before God’s throne.
How can it be that we are not only allowed to approach God’s throne, but invited to come—commanded to come, even? As we discussed yesterday, we are always in God’s presence. But in prayer, we come before Him intentionally. We do not come as peers or equals, but before a throne. We come as vulnerable children in need of mercy, hoping to find grace and help for our needs—and yet, we are invited to come with confidence.
Prayer is not a chance to tell God what to do; prayer is a chance to come near to God and to God’s grace. Prayer is one way God pours out the gifts of His presence upon us.
Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
(Psalm 130:1-2)
Questions for reflection and discussion:
- What do you believe about prayer? Has this changed over time?
- How do you pray? Is what you believe about prayer and what you do with prayer aligned?
- How is prayer approaching God’s throne of grace?
Church Reading Plan: 1 Kings 2; Galatians 6