Approach!

Approach!

‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Since we have this confidence, we can also have great boldness before him, for if we ask anything agreeable to his will, he will hear us.

Confidence and boldness come from personal experience and encounters. You will not courage to face the fire or the storm if you not have a Father you have tested several times and found to be a refuge and protection even in the fire and the storm. You do not also stumble upon confidence or boldness; it comes over a period of time. It is not an occasional experience, but a lifestyle. It really does matter in whom your confidence and boldness are anchored, because there are earthly and eternal consequences to that fact. Confidence is defined as 'the feeling or belief that one can have faith in or rely on someone or something'. As can be seen in the extract above, there must be something or someone on whom that faith is anchored. 

It will be something, no matter what I try to tell myself or how much I strive to convince myself that I do not need anyone. Life will happen to all of us; the best way to go through life is to have the help and support of the One who knows what is ahead and can and has provided all that I need for life and Godliness. Of course, in that confidence lies the power and blessing of access. I know God as the Father who loves me and has given His all for me, so I have a settled heart that He will always do what is best for me. There are no accidents when it comes to me. There are no limits to what God can do with a life that has been fully surrendered to Him. Access to God guarantees his listening ears, so I can tell Him how I am, what I want and also ask Him how I can keep pleasing Him. 

Access to God means I am able to know what pleases Him, and my prayers and asking can be in line with what pleases Him. Access to God is a privilege, and it demands specific behaviours and actions. I cannot come before the Lord in the way He demands and I will go back the same way. In fact, no matter what His answer to me is, whether yes, no or wait, I am at peace because I trust the mind and heart of my Father. He will not deny me that which is necessary for the assignment He has given me, and He will also not give me that which will destroy me or deny me eternity with Him.  I come before the Lord with confidence, sure and comfortable in the knowledge of the love of God for me. The past is forgiven, the present is stable and the future is secure. What more could I want? God's time of favour is here.