The Courage To Go Inside

9/14/2022

Written By: April Mills

“Let us therefore come boldly to throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

I don’t know about you, but I can think of many times I didn’t exactly come skipping with confidence to the throne of the grace. It was more like I timidly approached Him, peeking around the corner to make sure it was safe to come out. I was so acutely aware of all my flaws and imperfections that it just froze my feet in place. How could I come boldly to the Lord with such a lousy record? How could I boldly ask for grace and mercy when I was hardly “good’ and a long shot from “holy”?

I want to tell you friend; condemnation is one of the biggest tools of the enemy. Satan desires to fill your heart with such condemnation, such loathing, and such shame that you will never even think about approaching the Lord for help ever again. Satan is victorious when we hang our heads low, and don’t dare to hope for the grace and mercy of the Lord to touch our lives. All those feelings of condemnation, self-loathing, doubt, fear- they all act as a waterfall on our fire of faith. If the enemy can convince you that the Lord God is just waiting for a prime opportunity to blast you with a lightning bolt, then you will never step out in faith again.

Romans 8:1 tells us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the spirit of life has set us free from the law of sin and death. We don’t have to hang our heads in shame! We have been redeemed through the blood of the Lamb.

Hey, I am not perfect, but I know Who loves me, and I know who I can run to when I need mercy and grace. I know I can go to my Heavenly Father and not feel ashamed about it. A key step to a life of liberty in Christ is understanding that there is a difference between condemnation and conviction.

Condemnation is designed to drive you away and keep you away. It tells you that you are not good enough, unforgivable, and binds your feet in a heavy chain. Conviction by the Holy Spirit will lovingly draw you in and usher you into the presence of God. It is then that Lord can act as a good Father, and bring your feet back onto the path of righteousness. Remember, God disciplines those He loves (Rev 3:19).

If you look up boldly in the dictionary you find under its definition are the words confident and courageous. You don’t have to be confident in yourself to approach the Lord, just be confident in Him! Remember, God never changes, and so His word never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. This same word of life applies to you today. Take it and allow it to give you a new outlook on the compassion, mercy and grace of your Lord.

Friend, there is something you need from the Lord today. You have been standing outside of the door of the throne room, working up the courage to go inside. The movie of all your sin and mistakes keeps playing in your head, and stopping your feet from moving forward.

I say to you, throw that off and step inside! Embrace God’s holy Word that tells us to come boldly to throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need. Cast down the lies of the enemy that says God is mad at you, disappointed in you, and doesn’t want you. Those lies are designed to discourage you and destroy you. Don’t stand for it!

Push aside the negative thoughts, the guilt, the shame, and step through that door in faith. Step boldly, trusting God is who He says He is and nothing can separate you from the love of God. Lift your eyes toward the Holy One, the One that loves you most, and receive His grace and mercy today