It’s a Privilege to Pray

God sits on His throne in His temple. Jesus sits beside Him, vigorously pleading for those He loves. For us. The Holy Spirit is there too. On our behalf He utters groans that words cannot express. And then there’s us. Sitting here, yet welcomed into the presence of this Almighty God (Psalm 11:4, Psalm 18:6, Jeremiah 50:34, Hebrews 7:24-25, Romans 8:26-27).


–He invites us to come with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).


–He tells us our prayers are powerful and effective (James 5:16).


–He says pray about anything and everything. When we do He gives us His peace (Philippians 4:5-6).


–He tells us that faith the size of a mustard seed can say to a mountain, –“Move!” and it will move (Matthew 17:20).


–God says He loves us more than we can know and that He is able and willing to do more than we ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:18-20)


It’s a privilege to pray.

God Fights for You

We are equipped for battle with truth, righteousness, faith, the gospel, salvation, and the Word of God (see Ephesians 6:11-17).

And yet we know, “It is the Lord your God who fights for you (Deuteronomy 3:22).”

We stand firm and pray.

God Carries His People

Here’s what God did as he led his people through a great and terrifying wilderness: “You have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way you went until you came to this place (Deuteronomy 1:31).

God carries us through trouble to a place of peace.

Our Place of Refuge

People fled to a city of refuge for protection from an avenger (see Numbers 35:11).

People today pour out their hearts to the Lord, “for God is our refuge (Psalm 62:8).”

God Keeps His Promises

Their story began with groaning and cries for help. God heard. God saw.

God knew.

He said, “I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt (Exodus 3:17).”

God’s promise was fulfilled. “On the day after Passover, the people of Israel went out triumphantly in the sight of all the Egyptians (Numbers 33:3).

God hears our groaning and cries for help.

God sees and knows us.

He promises us comfort and peace and a safe arrival in his heavenly kingdom.

Sheep Need Their Shepherd

“Appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd (Numbers 27:16-17).”

All we like sheep need our shepherd.

This is why we pray.

A Request that Brought Joy

Art class was over. She asked me if she could stay to finish making a friendship bracelet. I said no until I realized why she was asking. It was her friend’s birthday and she wanted to give the bracelet to her as a gift.

It gave me joy to let her stay.

I think God gets joy when we ask for things to give to our friends.

The Reality of God’s Wrath

Phinehas took a stand against sin and God’s wrath was turned away (see Numbers 25:6-13).

God’s Son, Jesus, who died for our sin, delivers us from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him (John 3:36).

God is Trustworthy

God is not a man, that he should lie,
nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19).

The God we trust is worthy of praise-filled prayer.

A Salvation Story

They spoke against God and Moses. Their consequence was death. Those still living confessed, “We have sinned; we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray for us.” So Moses prayed and God told him how to help (from Numbers 21:5-9).

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life (John 3:14-15).

Sin, consequence and confession are part of every salvation story.

Why We Can Pray With Confidence

Before Christ came, priests represented the people in matters related to God. Priesthood was a gift (from Hebrews 5:1, Numbers 18:7).

Now we have a great high priest, Jesus, the Son of God. He sympathizes with weakness, understands temptation, and offers mercy and grace (from Hebrews 4:14-16).

We pray with confidence because Jesus represents us.