BOLD AND CONFIDENT!

My 14-year-old daughter broke the silence with her request. We were driving home from our father-daughter backpacking trip in the mountains.

“Dad, will you pray with me for a couple of my friends at school who don’t know Jesus?”

Her heart’s desire to see her friends come to Jesus was attractively large and beautiful. The tone and passion in her request struck a chord deep inside me.

I longed to accommodate her request, but it put my mind in turmoil and frustration. Mitigating the upheaval in my heart, I calmly and deliberately thought through my reply.

“Remember how things are going between God and me right now? We aren’t talking. So, I will gladly support you in your prayer for your friends, but I won’t pray.”

My daughter proceeded with a beautiful prayer for her friends.

It was a moment of which I’m not proud. I was in a relational crisis with God. Since coming to know Jesus, my relationship with Him has been REAL. Religious pretense was not a mask I wore to hide my failures and pains. I didn’t pretend I was a spiritual superhero to my kids. They witnessed my authentic faith in all its glorious failures. The gritty, dirty, down-to-earth kind. When human experience meets divine engagement in the grinding of gears as God works to shift me into greater freedom and intimacy with Him. It can be jerky and noisy as if I’m breaking. And I am breaking in a most painful, wonderful way as He heals.

You are allowed to be REAL. Encouraged to be REAL.

During this time, I instructed friends not to invite me to minister or engage in “church” activities since God and I were at odds. Once I visited a friend in the hospital. I told his wife I was going as a supportive friend only. While visiting he annoyingly commented, “How can you stay angry at your best friend (Jesus)?”

When enough pressure built and I did speak to God, it was in no uncertain terms. He heard how I was feeling through my emotional outbursts of anger, bitter statements, demanding questions, and pain-filled sobbing.

And here is my advice:

1. Avoid getting into a relational crisis with God. But if you are in one – admit it. Be honest.
2. Be REAL with God. Don’t hide or pretend. He literally knows it anyway :)

The beauty of relationship with God for those in Christ Jesus: God permits you to be real!

“…in whom [Christ Jesus our Lord] we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” ~ Ephesians 3:12

In Jesus, you can interact directly with God the Father BOLDLY and CONFIDENTLY!

“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.” ~ John 16:23 

Humans who are afraid tend to hide their true selves. We all want to present the best version of ourselves. Any lack necessitates creating a fake persona to be socially accepted and respected.

“How are you?”

“Fine.”

It’s a question asked and answered millions of times every Sunday gathering. We answer our fellow saints with appeasing “churchisms” and Christian clichés, dressing the part, pretending to be more than we feel.

And we can take this same “hiding” approach to God. Ashamed, angry, bitter we interact with God in pretense. A religious charade that dodges intimate exposure and yet seeks to pacify the yearning for healing and freedom that can only be found in Jesus. Hungry for intimacy with God but afraid we will be denied.

Feeling inferior and fearful we approach a perceived angry God with doubt of our value to Him. Ducking out of view, we seek to hide our true feelings, instead offering what we think God wants to hear and see to be accepted at least and approved at most.

If God had a campfire, you would be welcome at it. But why do we sometimes stay out on the fringes, just in shadow fearful of His attention? Are we afraid of what He will see? Do we believe our company will disappoint Him?

He knocks to enter intimacy with you. He awaits your consent. Divine access to Him has been made. But you must open the door. Maybe the door is inferiority. Maybe fear. It could be bitterness. God will knock on the door He intends to unlock for intimate fellowship. And you will know what door that is.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” ~ Revelation 3:20

This was written to a group of saints who lived “in-between”. Somewhere between genuine trust and self-reliance, this group exists cloaked in a religious façade tricking themselves into believing they are just fine. Dodging intimacy and avoiding authenticity they are found to be lukewarm. Religiously miserable. I have walked in that space and the wedgie created from sitting on that fence is unbearable.

In Jesus, we have BOLDNESS and ACCESS with CONFIDENCE to the Father!

YOU HAVE IT NOW.

Boldness in this passage means “to speak frankly, bluntly, openly, unreservedly, and without concealment”. It means that we can be honest with God. You are allowed to be REAL. Encouraged to be REAL.

Job in the Bible is one of my favorite characters because he is so honest with God. Through honest dialog, God brought Job into freedom via His loving correction and revelation of true identity – God’s identity and Job’s. Authenticity in your relationship with God nurtures intimacy and provides the power and resources to walk in freedom, and healing, with abundant fruitfulness for others. Job experienced restoration and his prayers became powerful to deliver his friends.

You can ACCESS God with CONFIDENCE.

Access is admission. It is an approach. Jesus is your approach. God has accepted you! You are welcome! The admission fee has been paid!

Confidence is trust. Confidence is the choice you make to rely upon the work of Jesus on your behalf.

And this boldness and confidence to access the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is by “the faith of Jesus” (KJV). Other translations render it as “through faith in Jesus.” I have written about the translation discrepancy in the inspiration “Saved by Grace Through Faith”.

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” ~ Hebrews 4:14-16

I admit it. I have thrown a royal temper tantrum in the throne room of God. It was not pretty. I said things that “good Christians” aren’t allowed to say to God. I have approached God recklessly and dangerously. I don’t glorify this fact or recommend it. Yet, His mercy absorbed my authentic impertinence.

He is indeed worthy of my reverence, respect, and fear. To tremble before Him is healthy. He is majestic and awesome in glory! His sheer power and holiness bring fear and trembling, yet He tells us to approach boldly and confidently. KNOW WHO YOU ARE and WHO HE IS. The display of His power and His voice of thunder is advocating for you. Not against you. His imposing love casts out the inferiority kind of fear, which renders you an outcast, alone and in terror.

Do not be afraid of intimacy with God. Have a real conversation. Sit close to His fire. Let Him see you. Know you. Free you. Heal you. Assure you. Empower you.

“Wave of Fire”