持续祷告：出自《恩典时刻》的灵修预览

Don’t be shy

Do you remember the awkwardness you felt when you attended somebody else’s family gathering for the first time? How uncomfortable it was to meet your date’s parents and feel them look you up and down? How nervous you were that you would say the wrong thing or fail to perform the way you were supposed to? How glad you were to get out of there?

I suspect that one of the fears that keeps Christians from praying more often, and keeps them from enjoying the prayers they do offer, is that they are uncomfortable. They know they haven’t lived the way they should; they feel sheepish and guilty about asking for things they know they don’t deserve; they are not so sure they know the etiquette of the heavenly court.

Here is good news for everyone who believes in Jesus as his or her Savior. You aren’t partially forgiven—you are completely forgiven. You aren’t merely tolerated—you are loved! “Let us 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 4:16).

You are given the right of citizenship in eternal life in heaven. Claim it! You are given the right to be called a son or daughter of God. Claim it! You are given the right to approach God himself any time, with any petition. Don’t be shy!

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