Gracious, Merciful, Omnipotent Father, I praise Your Holy name! I thank you for that amazing grace that was sacrificed for me upon that old rugged cross to save lowly sinners such as I. Thank you for your glorious blessings and the many more that are on their way.
You are beautiful, magnificent, powerful, holy, mighty, merciful, gracious, glorious and worthy of all praise.
Romans 3:24 But by the free gift of God’s grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it.
Table of contents
Working of the Holy Ghost produces Grace
Lord, help me to acquire gentleness, mercy, grace and peace, that I may be a true example to your flock. Help my life to display Your grace, oh God, through the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.
Work through me, save my life and change my heart, so that I can be who you want me to be. Lord, I know the inward working of the Holy Ghost produces grace, for Christ is full of grace.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us have confidence, then, and approach God’s throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.
Withstanding trials and temptations
Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You), cleanse my heart, for I know once I receive your grace, bitterness does not exist. Help me to remain calm in the middle of my storms as your grace is adorned upon me.
Lord, Lucifer tries to attack your army everyday: financially, spiritually, bodily and even through others, to tear us down. Give your soldiers the amazing grace to withstand these trials and temptations. Let not our inner peace be provoked. Help us to resist the devil for when we do, he shall flee.
Being steadfast in the storm
Heavenly Father, I submit myself to You. Help me to be humble in all situations for I know you will lift me up.
Jehovah Shalom, I pray today with all my heart, that I do not become bitter when the storm rages. Help me, oh El Shaddai, to grow in grace, each and everyday, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior who is worthy to be praised! Amen!
James 4:6 But the grace that God gives is even stronger. As the scripture says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Revelation 22:21 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone.
christianstt.com
Growing in Grace of God – Prayer for January 28. When we give our lives to Christ, we receive grace of God and we are expected to grow in the grace as a Christians.
Bible Verse for Today
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).
It is our responsibility to grow in spirituality. We shouldn’t depend on a pastor, the church service we attend but it should be our personal duty. Jesus has given us the power to grow in grace and in knowledge. In the quest for growing in grace, we must continually obey God’s instructions and His commandments. There is great grace in the covenant and if you don’t take the grace for granted, you will enjoy every provision accessible in it. The moment the grace of God leaves a person, it is disgrace that takes over. This can be confirmed in the life of King Saul.
You are a Christian, you are carrying the grace of God, don’t play with sin because Satan is looking for every opportunity to catch a careless Christians. We need to be on guard always and be growing in the grace of God so as to give no ground to Satan and his agents. Know that you are not better than others because you were chosen, it’s just the grace of God on you. Now that you are saved, keep growing in grace.
Grace of God Prayer for Today
My life is an expression of grace of God with glory, perfection, beauty, and righteousness. I shall continue to grow in grace, I will not be brought down. The grace of God over my life shall never be a waste.
I receive the grace to do exploits, I receive the grace to achieve, I receive the grace to excel, and I receive the grace to remain in the path of righteousness. Lord, nurture me and let me grow spiritually, and in grace. When your grace leaves a person, shame follows, Lord your grace shall not depart from my life and shame will never set into my life. The grace of God will be sufficient for me. Amen.
Also read: Time to Fight for God Prayer for January 27
prayray.com
Guest post by Dave Jenkins
In my experience, many Christians struggle a great deal with prayer. Whether it’s struggling with feelings of guilt or shame, or just feeling apathetic, the struggle is often not how to make time to pray; rather, the struggle comes when answering the question: Why pray? In Hebrews 4:16 the author of Hebrews tells his readers, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 provides the answer to why Christians are to persevere is the high priestly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. His ministry reconciles God’s people to God and opens heaven’s chest of grace. This is what makes possible the great resource of prayer.
We Approach the Throne of Grace Because of Jesus’ Ministry
To approach the throne of God in prayer on the basis of Christ’s high-priestly ministry is to come to His propitiating sacrifice and present intercession. The language used here in Hebrews 4:16 is striking, and clear. By telling God’s people to come before His throne, the author reminds God’s people that it is the place where blood has been offered for His people, the mercy seat where God calls sinners to meet with Him. God’s people are also reminded that it is to a King that they are to come.
Three Ways We Should Approach the Throne of Grace
In a great sermon on this text, Charles Haddon Spurgeon worked out some of the implications on how Christians are to approach God in prayer. The first is that Christians must come in lowly reverence. If Christians show great respect in the courts of earthly majesty—in the White House, for example or Buckingham Palace– then surely God’s people will come with even greater reverence before the throne of heaven. There is no place for pride or vanity here, and if God’s people could see what really is before them spiritually they would tremble at its awesome majesty. Spurgeon writes, “His throne is a great white throne, unspotted, and clear as crystal. Familiarity there may be, but let it not be unhallowed. Boldness there should be, but let it not be impertinent.”1
Secondly, Christians should come to God in prayer with great joy. The reason Christians should come with great joy is because of the favor that has been extended to them is so high a privilege. Instead of judgment, Christians find themselves in a position as favored children– invited to bring their entire request to the King of Heaven.
Finally, Christians should come to God with confidence. Christians come knowing that they will be favorably received, knowing that they can speak freely, and knowing that this is a throne of grace. This is only possible, because of the High Priest, who has gone ahead, securing access for His people by His blood.
Throne of Grace
Many Christians struggle with prayer. They tremble as if the light from God’s throne exposed them in naked shame, when in fact it reveals the radiant robes that have been draped around them, the righteousness of Christ given to all who trust in Him. The key to prayer—to praying often, to praying openly, to praying boldly and freely and with gladness of heart—to know that one is clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, invited to His own saving ministry, purchased by His precious blood, and anticipated by His sympathetic intercession. This is the secret to lively and happy prayer.
It is to the throne of God which people come—it is a throne of grace. This means that when God’s people come, their sins are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, along with any faults are looked upon with compassion. Stumbling prayers are not criticized, but are received with kindness. Moreover, Jesus’ priestly ministry secures the Holy Spirit’s help. The apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” God’s Spirit helps God’s people to pray, and He graciously interprets His people’s prayers in the heart of the Father.
Furthermore, because it is a throne of grace to which God’s people come, God is ready to grant the requests of His people. He is glad to provide for needs, to give strength to persevere through trials to His people. He says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” The writer continues saying, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Cor. 12:9). One commentator explains, “Man needs mercy for past failure, and grace for present and future work. Mercy is to be ‘taken’ as it is extended to man in his weakness; grace is to be ‘sought’ by man according to his necessity.”2
God requires His people to persevere in faith through the trials of the Christian life. He gives His people a great reason to press on the saving work of the great High Priest, Jesus Christ. He is the One who is able to save His people to the uttermost. He has gone ahead of His people to open the doors and unlock the treasures of God’s mercy and grace. Prayer is a great resource God gives His people, one that must not be neglected if one is to grow strong in the faith and persevere through difficulties. Prayer brings one to a throne of power and authority but also a throne of grace to all who are in Christ. Therefore, let God’s people draw near to God with reverence, with joy, with great expectation, and especially with confidence that belongs to sons and daughters of the King of heaven and earth.
Spurgeon provides us a fitting conclusion about the difference God’s grace makes for God’s people:
“I could not say to you, “Pray,” not even to you saints, unless it were a throne of grace, much less I could talk of prayer to you sinners; but now I will say this to every sinner here, though he should think himself to be the worst sinner that every lived, cry unto the Lord and seek Him while he may be found. A throne of grace is a place fitted for you: go to your knees, by simple faith go to your Savior, for He, He it is who is the throne of grace.”3
The challenge to approach God’s throne of grace is a call to persistent; confident prayer based on Jesus’ own experience of suffering and trials, and His subsequent ability to empathize with our weakness. Mercy focuses on the assurance that past transgressions have been dealt with, and grace points to the inner strength to endure the test. Both come through the heavenly High Priest Jesus Christ who was Himself tested, and is generously given ‘for timely assistance’. In other words, Divine help comes at the appropriate time, not least when believers pass through periods of test (Hebrews 2:18).
Since God is the One who gives the help (Psalm 9:9), we may be assured that He is aware of the right time when this help is needed.
Do want to speak to the Father? Do you have a pressing need? Do you want to just talk to Him? Because of Jesus, you can boldly approach the throne of grace, and know that your voice will be heard by a loving, sovereign, and almighty God.
1. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, “The Throne of Grace,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, 63 vols. (Pasadena, Tex.: Pilgrim Publications, 1975), 17:855.
2. B.F. Westcott, The Epistle To The Hebrews (London: Macmillan, 1903), 109.
3. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, “The Throne of Grace,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, 63 vols. (Pasadena, Tex.: Pilgrim Publications, 1975), 860).
blogs.blueletterbible.org
Editors Note: This is a new series on spiritual growth designed to help our readers understand how to grow in Christ.
- Dave wrote the first post in this series on the blessing of the spiritual disciplines.
- Joey Cochran wrote the second post in this series on the four functions of prayer.
- Chris Poblete wrote the third post on the practice of private prayer.
- Chris wrote the fourth post on the practice of corporate prayer.
- Matthew Fretwell wrote the fifth post on finding the silence of God.
- Brian Hedges wrote the sixth post on how to lead family devotions.
- Chris in the seventh post in this series shares from Hudson Taylor about the importance of having a personal devotion time.
- Brian Hedges wrote the eighth post on how to nurture biblical love in the local church.
- Bob Hoekstra wrote the ninth post on answered prayer promised in Jesus’ name.
- Chris wrote the tenth post in this series on humility.
- Brian wrote the eleventh post in this series on how to receive criticism.
- Charles Spurgeon shared the twelfth post in this series on how to find joy in deep distress.
- Brian wrote the thirteenth post in this series about waiting on the Lord.
- Madison wrote the fourteenth post in this series on evangelism.
- Mathew Sims wrote the fifteenth post on journaling.
- Mike Boling wrote the sixteenth post on the importance of consistent and purposeful Bible study.
- Brian Hedges wrote the seventeenth post in this series on how to cultivate humility.
- Dan Darling wrote the eighteenth post on how to find joy in a fallen world.
- Mike Boling wrote the nineteenth post on how to delight yourself in the Lord through spending time in the Word and in prayer.
- Craig Hurst wrote the twentieth post on how to walk in obedience to the Word of God.
- Dan Darling wrote the twenty-first post on the rhythm of forgiveness and repentance.
- Jeff Medders wrote the twenty-second post on on our motivation in sanctification.
- Dan wrote the twenty-third post on how God uses relationships to grow us in His grace.
- Today Jeff Medders shares from John Newton on how to handle controversy.
- Today Dave Jenkins writes on prayer and the grace of God.
****************
In my experience, many Christians struggle a great deal with prayer. Whether it’s struggling with feelings of guilt or shame, or just feeling apathetic, the struggle is often not how to make time to pray; rather, the struggle comes when answering the question: Why pray? In Hebrews 4:16 the author of Hebrews tells his readers, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 provides the answer to why Christians are to persevere is the high priestly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. His ministry reconciles God’s people to God and opens heaven’s chest of grace. This is what makes possible the great resource of prayer.
We Approach the Throne of Grace Because of Jesus’ Ministry
To approach the throne of God in prayer on the basis of Christ’s high-priestly ministry is to come to His propitiating sacrifice and present intercession. The language used here in Hebrews 4:16 is striking, and clear. By telling God’s people to come before His throne, the author reminds God’s people that it is the place where blood has been offered for His people, the mercy seat where God calls sinners to meet with Him. God’s people are also reminded that it is to a King that they are to come.
Three Ways We Should Approach the Throne of Grace
In a great sermon on this text, Charles Haddon Spurgeon worked out some of the implications on how Christians are to approach God in prayer. The first is that Christians must come in lowly reverence. If Christians show great respect in the courts of earthly majesty—in the White House, for example or Buckingham Palace– then surely God’s people will come with even greater reverence before the throne of heaven. There is no place for pride or vanity here, and if God’s people could see what really is before them spiritually they would tremble at its awesome majesty. Spurgeon writes, “His throne is a great white throne, unspotted, and clear as crystal. Familiarity there may be, but let it not be unhallowed. Boldness there should be, but let it not be impertinent.”1
Secondly, Christians should come to God in prayer with great joy. The reason Christians should come with great joy is because of the favor that has been extended to them is so high a privilege. Instead of judgment, Christians find themselves in a position as favored children– invited to bring their entire request to the King of Heaven.
Finally, Christians should come to God with confidence. Christians come knowing that they will be favorably received, knowing that they can speak freely, and knowing that this is a throne of grace. This is only possible, because of the High Priest, who has gone ahead, securing access for His people by His blood.
Throne of Grace
Many Christians struggle with prayer. They tremble as if the light from God’s throne exposed them in naked shame, when in fact it reveals the radiant robes that have been draped around them, the righteousness of Christ given to all who trust in Him. The key to prayer—to praying often, to praying openly, to praying boldly and freely and with gladness of heart—to know that one is clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, invited to His own saving ministry, purchased by His precious blood, and anticipated by His sympathetic intercession. This is the secret to lively and happy prayer.
It is to the throne of God which people come—it is a throne of grace. This means that when God’s people come, their sins are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, along with any faults are looked upon with compassion. Stumbling prayers are not criticized, but are received with kindness. Moreover, Jesus’ priestly ministry secures the Holy Spirit’s help. The apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” God’s Spirit helps God’s people to pray, and He graciously interprets His people’s prayers in the heart of the Father.
Furthermore, because it is a throne of grace to which God’s people come, God is ready to grant the requests of His people. He is glad to provide for needs, to give strength to persevere through trials to His people. He says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” The writer continues saying, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Cor. 12:9). One commentator explains, “Man needs mercy for past failure, and grace for present and future work. Mercy is to be ‘taken’ as it is extended to man in his weakness; grace is to be ‘sought’ by man according to his necessity.”2
God requires His people to persevere in faith through the trials of the Christian life. He gives His people a great reason to press on the saving work of the great High Priest, Jesus Christ. He is the One who is able to save His people to the uttermost. He has gone ahead of His people to open the doors and unlock the treasures of God’s mercy and grace. Prayer is a great resource God gives His people, one that must not be neglected if one is to grow strong in the faith and persevere through difficulties. Prayer brings one to a throne of power and authority but also a throne of grace to all who are in Christ. Therefore, let God’s people draw near to God with reverence, with joy, with great expectation, and especially with confidence that belongs to sons and daughters of the King of heaven and earth.
Spurgeon provides us a fitting conclusion about the difference God’s grace makes for God’s people:
“I could not say to you, “Pray,” not even to you saints, unless it were a throne of grace, much less I could talk of prayer to you sinners; but now I will say this to every sinner here, though he should think himself to be the worst sinner that every lived, cry unto the Lord and seek Him while he may be found. A throne of grace is a place fitted for you: go to your knees, by simple faith go to your Savior, for He, He it is who is the throne of grace.”3
The challenge to approach God’s throne of grace is a call to persistent; confident prayer based on Jesus’ own experience of suffering and trials, and His subsequent ability to empathize with our weakness. Mercy focuses on the assurance that past transgressions have been dealt with, and grace points to the inner strength to endure the test. Both come through the heavenly High Priest Jesus Christ who was Himself tested, and is generously given ‘for timely assistance’. In other words, Divine help comes at the appropriate time, not least when believers pass through periods of test (Hebrews 2:18).
Since God is the One who gives the help (Psalm 9:9), we may be assured that He is aware of the right time when this help is needed.
Do want to speak to the Father? Do you have a pressing need? Do you want to just talk to Him? Because of Jesus, you can boldly approach the throne of grace, and know that your voice will be heard by a loving, sovereign, and almighty God.
1. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, “The Throne of Grace,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, 63 vols. (Pasadena, Tex.: Pilgrim Publications, 1975), 17:855.
2. B.F. Westcott, The Epistle To The Hebrews (London: Macmillan, 1903), 109.
3. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, “The Throne of Grace,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, 63 vols. (Pasadena, Tex.: Pilgrim Publications, 1975), 860).
servantsofgrace.org
