Prayer: Free access, Greatest privilege, Toughest work.

[crossnote]

Prayer...

Free access
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
(Heb 10:19-22)

to the greatest privilege

To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
(Luk 1:72-75)

involving the toughest work


Mark 14
37And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?

Prayer...
In the light of having free privileged access to the Throne of God, bought by the Blood of the Lamb , why do we find it such hard work?

 

[psychomom]

I am just so easily distracted...

Prayer: the toughest work you'll ever love?

thanks for a great post, my friend. ♥
~ellie

 

[crossnote]

I wonder , do we see it as an obligation or privilege? Law or Gospel?

 

[RedTent]

We have free access, it is a privilege, but it is hard work for the human to obey orders,especially if he is a very intelligent human who is very knowledgeable.

Luke13: He said to them, [SUP]24 [/SUP]“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.[SUP]25 [/SUP]Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door forus.’
“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
[SUP]26 [/SUP]“Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
[SUP]27 [/SUP]“But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evil doers!’

If the person is not of God’s Kingdom, he first has to ask to be let in. Often, the first request to God is for Him to get them out of whatever pickle they find themselves in, instead.

Mat_18:11 For the Son of Man has come to save the lost.

When we go to our Father in Heaven, He asks that we be clean, first, that we ask Christ to cleanse us of our sins and that we are a person who is free of taking on the judgment of other people. God also asks that we are people who give the Father the praise and glory due him. They are simple things to do, but the proud and arrogant person who has spent a lot of time building themselves up finds it very difficult to do.

The Lord's Prayer is our example, the outline for us. It requires being humble, not easy for many of us.