Throne Room

Sometimes, growing up in the Christian church makes the wonder of the Lord and the illuminating power from approaching His throne grow dim beneath the layers of worship services, VBS weeks, small groups, and prayer nights. When I become engulfed in doing I forget the very Being who calls me into His presence. I feel plagued by the to-do lists. I seem to fall short in every area because I am relying on my own strength. So, I find myself searching for a scripted prayer or a passage to bring to the Lord because my words do not seem worthy. I avoid coming to the Lord in the rawness of my vulnerability, but when I do this, I have removed the significance of Christ’s death and resurrection. I have fallen prey to the lie of perfection. Christ knew the future, He saw the anguish in the garden, the betrayal of Judas, the torture of crucifixion, the rejection of a people group He loved, and yet he said, “Not what I will, but what You will” (Mark 14:36). He accepted the cup of suffering, so I might have access to the Father (Ephesians 2:8), to enter His presence without the guilt of sin but instead in the freedom of salvation. No sacrifices or temples, no rituals or priests, simply a prayer.
“Where sins have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have the confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:17-23).

We have access to the Heavenly Father by the blood of Christ.
I am reminded of Jonah, who fled from the Lord and His call. When tossed by sea, thrown into the darkness of the waves, and from the depth of the fish belly, Jonah cries upon Yahweh, and Yahweh delivers him. Jonah says, “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs” (2:8). Jonah recognized how idolatry removes the loyalty of one’s heart. The desperation of Jonah’s situation sobered him to the point of realizing he had removed himself from God, and he felt the distance, he felt the need for salvation. In a cry of desperation, he called on the Lord, and in His great mercy, the Lord showed grace on Jonah. He rescued him from his disobedience and from the belly of the fish with such power Jonah could not help but recognize Yahweh’s heart. In repentance and praise, Jonah returns to the Lord by receiving the grace extended to him. Father, forgive me for chasing the worthless idols of Christianity. For seeking the mirror of approval in serving others and the false fulfillment of prioritizing ministry over time spent with you. Forgive me for acting in your name, without calling on your name. I receive your grace, and I come boldly to your throne room.