The Throne Room: A Parable on Timid Prayer
Permission to Speak Freely: Part 2 (Holy Hump Day! #1)
Your heart thumps wildly.
Hands clammy, you peer down at the stone floor, polished until it appears to gleam from within. The knot in your stomach climbs into your throat.
Everyone is staring. He is staring. You feel it bearing down on you like an avalanche.
Looking up is impossible. If your eyes meet his, you know it’s a death sentence.
So, you shuffle forward blindly. The lump in your throat grows until you fear your words will fail. Sweat crawls down your brow, into your downcast eyes. Still, you shuffle, knees trembling as you inch toward the throne.
“Why do you come before the King?” booms a voice from the dais like thunder rolling over a raging sea.
Feeling his eyes pierce your being, your voice falters. You utter a croak, but no words.
“Lift your eyes and speak.”
You lift your head, tilted to one side, but find your focus glued to the flagstones. Racing even faster, your heart feels like a convict pounding on the bars of his cage for release.
As you prepare for the wrath against your brazen intrusion, you hear a sound like whispering instead. A sliver of curiosity breaks into your mind as silence spreads.
“Friend,” the voice says.
It is still powerful, but you suddenly find your knees stilled.
“Do not fear,” it says. The terror melts.
“We know your need. Please, ask,” says the voice, now strong and protecting, like the steel of a mother gorilla’s grip at the scent of a predator.
With those few words of grace, your heart lifts and you raise your eyes.
Coming before the perfect God of the universe is a frightful prospect. Isaiah’s vision proves that. Even the seraphim attending the throne cover their faces as they worship. The guilt-stricken prophet condemns himself. (Is 6:1-5) Only after spiritual cleansing does he find courage to speak with God.
Christ changed the rules.
He is our eternal High Priest, interceding on our behalf as we draw near to God through Him (Heb 7:25). Because of this, we are told to “approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time” (Heb 4:16, HCSB).
The headstrong apostle, Peter, tells us, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Pet 5:7, NIV). The apostle Paul agrees (Phil 4:4-7).
It is a Throne of Grace! What better place to go for mercy and help?
The clear teaching of Scripture is this: If you are in Christ, you can approach God with any issue. You are His child.
Don’t fear being unworthy. Jesus takes that on. (Rom 8:1)
Don’t fear being a nuisance. Your Father God is never too busy. He has time to paint the sunrise every moment, chart the course of untold galaxies, and keep 8 billion amazingly complex bodies working. But if He cares for the sparrow, nothing of yours is too small or too big. (Mt 10:28-31)
Don’t fear being too raw. Read the Psalms and recognize the full breadth of human emotions wrestling with God. If he can help a battle-hardened adulterer like David, he can help you.
Recognize the One you’re talking to and honor Him. But know you can enter his presence with confidence. Tell him all that concerns you, from personal issues to international woes.
This is the opportunity of your life. Don’t waste it.
The key is belonging to Christ.
Once you have that, bring it all and lay it before Him.
You have permission to speak freely with God.
In addition to Imago Dad, Brandon Wilborn writes fantasy with spiritual themes. His current project is a series for young readers about a dog with an imagination that highlights the classic virtues of our Judeo-Christian heritage. But he’s already got a couple of fantasy books and stories available at BrandonWilborn.com
Thank you, Brandon. I needed that, too. But I don’t believe in “untold galaxies”.
I needed that. Thank you.