Tuesday Prayer: Grace to Help

~ Heather Davis

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
(Hebrews 4:15-16)

Most High God, Maker of heaven and earth and King above all other rulers, we are grateful for the incredible privilege of coming before Your throne of grace. That You offer us mercy and grace to help in time of need is really astonishing. Too often, we go about our busy little days, filling our time with things that are temporary instead of investing deeply in Your Kingdom. Forgive us, Lord, for minds set on this world rather than on You.

Forgive us, too, for each time we’ve taken for granted the benefits of prayer. Covered by the righteousness of our Lord Jesus, we are able to approach Your throne with confidence. Yet sometimes we approach with a sense of entitlement or carelessness. Too often, we present our requests before You as if we are delegating a task list. Other times, we rush about and do not approach at all.

Today, Lord, call us to linger for a while. Help us to be still before Your throne and listen to Your wonderful voice. Wherever we are, whatever we are doing, break through to us. Cut through the distractions which rule our minds and pierce any hardness in our hearts. Show us how we ought to walk humbly before You. Show us how to do justice and love kindness – not necessarily in some grandiose and theoretical possibility but in actual acts and words to the people around us. Our families, our friends, our community.

Remove from us the tendency to be caught up in cultural ebbs and flows and instead help us to be anchored to You – the Rock who is higher than we are. May we truly stand firm against the devil’s schemes in day-to-day life, rooted and grounded in Your Word of Truth, living lives surrendered to Your authority, and filled with the joy of knowing and being known by the Almighty God. You are our portion, You are our strength, and You are our motivation. Teach us to live for Your glory in all we do, amen.

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
(Lamentations 3:24-25)

29 thoughts on “Tuesday Prayer: Grace to Help”

    1. I know I need the reminding. Sometimes when the day is long and full, I forget to listen for His voice in the middle of it. Lord willing, I will grow more and more successful in hearing Him above the rest. šŸ™‚ Thanks for reading!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  2. Love this prayer

    Have you ever thought how we would have such a different view on approaching God through Jesus if we have lived on earth through the entire story, from making sacrifices in Israel to the cross to now? I think we would have just been overcome with amazement that we could now approach God on our own through Jesus’ blood in his Spirit inside ourselves which have now become his temple?! That would just floor anybody from the OT that this is the normal. All because of Jesus. He saved us from our sins but it’s miraculous and wondrous the closeness he brought us into our lives with God. Only Jesus could do that. I know I have a different perspectice on it because this is all I have ever known. I’ve never known what it’s like to have to make blood sacrifices to be in God’s presence. We don’t have to “work” for it, for his closeness. It’s already done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. It is really and truly amazing. One thing I imagine when I read about the sacrifices is the smell of death and blood mingled with the scent of cooking meat. The glory and the gory all right there tied together in a type of the redemption to come. Unreal for sure. I can’t imagine seeing it, living with it as a part of life, and then seeing it fulfilled and complete in Christ’s death and Resurrection. To really draw near to our Creator – what a crazy and beautiful privilege! It really would probably blow their minds. It blows mine who hasn’t ever actually shed the blood of an animal.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. But not before commenting on this…yes isn’t that mind blowing?! Glory and gory. Haha that’s so true!

        It did get messy, really icky messy. And that was the illustration to Jesus. I am starting to understand why it might have been so difficult to conceive of intimacy with God. They really did live a life suspended between the glory and gory. But in an animalistic way we’ve never experienced – me too as I’ve never shed an animal’s blood either – and definitely not to grow closer to Jesus as a sacrifice!

        I’m rambling too haha! And one of the babies needs me now so I’m off! Good night!

        Liked by 1 person

      3. šŸ˜¦ it wasn’t unfortunately! My son came into our bedroom way too early this morning ready to start the day. But I will say this, it has been a good morning and it was a great opportunity to replace the grumpiness inside with Bible verses and thankfulness for what God has given me. And it worked! So it’s been good today! I also had an extra cup of coffee too šŸ˜‰

        Hope your sleep was good!

        Like

  5. šŸ˜¦ it wasn’t unfortunately. My 5 yo son came into our bedroom way too early ready to start the day. But I will say this…it provided a great opportunity to combat the grumpiness inside with Bible verses and thankfulness for all that he’s provided. So it was still a good morning! And I did drink an extra cup of coffee to help šŸ˜‰

    Hope your sleep was good too!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. That’s good, anyway! Hurrah for coffee. I’ve recently found out about cold brew coffee. All I have to do is plan ahead and make tomorrow’s coffee today. It is SOO good. And I’ve finally gotten the hang of black coffee after 3 months of keto diet. I don’t know how I ever enjoyed it with honey or sugar…

      Like

      Reply

      1. Cold brew is my go-to under specific circumstances: if it’s late at night and I’m planning to go on a jog in the morning before going to the office and it’s already past the time to go to bed such that I will get adequate sleep, I will make a quick batch of cold brew and put it in the fridge for when I wake up and sleep in a little later, wake up, down the cold brew shot and go run – in lieu of getting up about 20 minutes earlier and making a full hot French press and leisurely sipping on it until I’m awake enough to run.

        How was the keto diet? I’m so unfamiliar with it.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I love both ways, though I let my cold brew sit for about 24 hours and sip it. But somehow the cold brew process lessens the acidity so I can actually enjoy it more with the stomach junk!

        Keto was the most fun diet I’ve ever been on and did permanently change certain tastes (like unadorned coffee, for instance). But it didn’t seem to affect the headaches/migraines and I couldn’t stop losing weight, so I had to switch back to paleo – with a few cheats here and there.

        I’d like to run again someday. My youngest is in cross country this year so it’s got me thinking bout it. šŸ˜€

        Like

      3. Also I only drink my coffee black. I bought a $22 bag of Kenya Gachatha that was from a (regionally) famous high end coffeehouse in Arkansas called Onyx. I’m so excited to brew it up at the house. It is labeled with tasting notes of white grape, sugar cane, peach and tamarind.

        Its been awhile since ive done a full 24 hour cold brew. The summer’s starting to wane here already but its still warm enough to try it as a weekend afternoon cup. I might give it a shot this weekend or next.

        Interesting on Keto. Glad you enjoyed it! In on the “I’m trying to eat healthy diet.” Haha. Joking aside we do eat pretty healthy.

        You should do it! I love running outdoors especially. It’s such a great way to soak up what God has made in nature.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. I loved running, but have to be careful with the hip (arthritis, hypermobility in SI joint, and other fun). I still walk briskly and being outdoors walking with God in His creation is something I really crave.

        I used to put honey and coconut milk in my coffee, but now I like it black. Cold brew I only like black. It has completely different flavors.

        I do try to eat healthy. With the migraine stuff, there’s a lot I have to watch, so it kinda forces me to. Haha!

        Liked by 1 person

      5. šŸ‘ to drinning coffee black. How do you brew it? And what kind of coffee do you drink? I do a French press (first tbing in the morning) and an aeropress (sometimes).

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Well, I’ve been trying several kinds. A friend had someone gift her with tons of coffee beans in different brands and varieties and she gave me some. I’ve been going through them, grinding them in the morning and leaving the grounds in a quart jar with filtered water until the next morning. Then I use a French press to remove the grounds and drink cold (no ice. I do not like ice in anything for some reason!). If I’m not doing cold brew, I also use a French press in the morning. We’ve found a lower-acid brand (Don Pablo’s) that we both really like and it doesn’t trigger the GERD for me if I keep it to a cup a day. With all the stuff my rebellious body is doing these days, I’m just thankful I can still have a cup a day! I do have extra here and there but have to be careful with that. šŸ˜‰

        Like

      7. I have an extra cup here and there too, ok more like an extra 3 or 4 cups…and that’s every day šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚

        I love French presses. Elegant, functional, high quality. They are such a great way to brew good coffee. I’ve never had Don Pablos before. Will have to check them out at some point. I’m just going through my last bag of Spectrum Coffee – a coffeehouse in Brooklyn. Next up I’ll go through my Onyx inventory. I’m hoping to get some good Alaskan coffee next month, but we’ll see šŸ™‚

        Liked by 1 person

      8. I was like that with all-day coffee drinking back when I was young and this old tent was a little less threadbare. Ha!

        We found it first at Costco but now we order it through their website. I am enjoying trying the ones my friend brought me, though!

        Like

      9. “This old tent was a little less threadbare” – that was hilarious!!! After reading your comment about how God took you aside one day and told you it wasn’t going to get easier, I had a honest conversation with God about suffering the other night And he reminded me of Ecclesiastes 12:2-7 and said, “This is going to happen to you, Joel.”

        All day coffee drinking is wonderful btw. I could drink it all the way up to about 9pm or so. I love it!!

        Liked by 1 person

      10. It comforts me to know His heart when things down here are going horribly. That’s intense, but it sounds like a good stripping away of all mortal and earthly reasons to love Him. One less tent peg in the earth, to keep up the analogy – Ha!

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Pingback: You Asked For It! | Christianity Through The Eyes Of A Parent – Rejoicing In Hope

Add your voice!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.