Day 3 – Confidence

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16

“Oh please, please don’t be damaged.” I slowly opened the car door after the vehicle came to its abrupt stop. I was 16. Some friends and I had been playing chase in our cars. I was in a 1977 Ford LTD – the “land barge” I called it. It was built like a tank. They were driving a 1980 Mazda RX7. Fast, but I could take them if I had enough distance.

We had been winding through some back roads and hit a long stretch where I made the fateful decision to punch it. I didn’t see the corner until it was too late. The little Mazda held the corner tight. The “land barge” found the ditch and eventually drove out on the other side. As I got out to inspect it, I saw the crumpled fender. My dad was going to kill me.

All the way home I tried to think of ways you could get a dent so large in a ’77 LTD. Hit and run while I was parked at a gas station? Someone drove me off the road? Anything but the truth. Maybe he won’t notice? I went with the hit and run. My dad saw right through me. (It probably had something to do with the giant clod of dirt that was under the front bumper.)

Have you ever felt that way with God? Like you had done something that was so bad or so stupid that there is no way He would understand. Blame it on someone else. Avoid the subject all together. Maybe God won’t notice. Meanwhile we've got a giant clod of dirt under our front bumper. The Hebrews passage above tells us to approach the throne with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need. Isn’t it true that a lot of times we come to prayer with anything but confidence. Shame maybe. Guilt possibly. But not confidence.

The author tells us that we can come with confidence because we have a Savior who gets us. He was tempted just like we are. He didn’t give in, but He understands why we did. Jesus wants us to come anyways – confidently – knowing that we are forgiven and he has the grace and mercy that we need. The cross covers everything. It removes the clods from dirty souls and repairs dented lives. So come – bring your victories over sin and your failures – your successes and your tragedies. He understands. It’s why He came.

There's a passage in the Bible that says, "Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love." As you pray today, take a few moments to list off the things you have avoided bringing to God. It could be a recent moral failure or a habitual sin. It could be something that happened a long time ago and you still haven’t been able to forgive yourself.

• Thank God that He understands your pain and your struggles.
• Thank Jesus for being able to relate to you and for providing a way for you to come before God with confidence through His death on the cross.
• Confess any known sins and failures.
• Thank God for forgiving you your sins and for fixing the damaged relationship between you and Him.
• Ask God for mercy and grace to help you through your struggles and to live in the freedom from sin Jesus has provided for you.
• Ask God to give you His perspective on the things that tempt you and to respond to them in a way that shows gratitude for what Jesus has done.