We have all found ourselves standing outside the door (literal or figurative) of a person from whom we need help. Our hand is raised to knock but remains frozen in the air. Why? Perhaps we don’t feel worthy or fear getting “No” for an answer. If we fear asking a fellow human for help, how much more likely are we to fear asking God?

And yet we are encouraged to ask with boldness. How is it possible that we, in spite of our unworthiness, are encouraged to enter God’s presence in prayer? It is only because of Christ whose blood has cleansed us from our sin and made us worthy to stand in God’s presence. To fear asking God for help is to diminish the greatness of what Christ has done for us. Consider how an earthly parent would feel if his or her child feared asking for help. How much more does God welcome us to lay our needs before Him!

Avail yourself today of the privilege of prayer. It is surely the greatest of our earthly blessings.

Anxiety and prayer are more opposed to each other than fire and water.
J. A. Bengel