Pray boldly (2)

Martin Luther had a good friend named Frederick Myconius who became very ill to the point of death. Luther wrote to him: “I command thee in the name of God to live because I still have need of thee in the work of reforming the church…The Lord will never let me hear that thou art dead but will permit thee to survive me. For this I am praying, this is my will, and may my will be done, because I seek only to glorify the name of God.” We think of speaking softly to God, of humbling ourselves before God, but not of praying boldly. Yet that’s what the Bible says we should do: “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus…let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful…Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (vv. 19, 22, 23, 35, 36 NKJV). Prayer is not about persuading God to let go of something He’s reluctant to give. He’s more willing to give than we are to receive. He’s actually looking for opportunities to bless us: “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV). So pray boldly and be confident that God will do what He promised.