"Resist the tendencies of the flesh that try to take credit for anything that
allowed you to be in God's presence in the first place."
God our Father is holy. Only One person in all existence has ever been found worthy to stand in the Father's presence on His own merit, then stand at His right hand. (Acts 7:54-56) God is perfect and can have nothing before Him that is impure. Nothing can be near Him that isn’t sanctified (set apart and made holy), or in simple terms…allowed. Do you consider yourself physically and spiritually going before the throne of God the Father EACH time you pray? Do you consider yourself conversing directly with *the* God and Father of the Word - Jesus Christ our Lord?
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"
John 14:6 NKJV
Prayer. Humbling oneself to the only One in authority over you is difficult for the human mind, especially as adults. To be subjected to any authority is hard enough on the flesh with its vanity. (Romans 13:2; Ecclesiastes 1:1-2) Add to that the knowledge that you cannot even approach God without a Mediator, Jesus Christ the Lord, it can be humiliating for the boastful and proud. (1 Timothy 2:5) The notion can instead ignite our vanity if we're not careful. For long-time Christians and "false humility", if we apply the natural rebellious attitude of the flesh (Romans 8:7) to the announcement of our arrival before God's throne, even if you come in the name of Christ, though cloaked in arrogance and conceit with an attitude that says, "I shouldn't be treated like a child, judged or corrected by anyone", you can see how it is impossible for anyone NOT of Christ "sanctified" by Him to even approach God at all. Makes sense to me!
"But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: 'God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.'"
James 4:6 NKJV
Acknowledging God as Sovereign and in complete control not only of all existence, but of your very breath is key. God will resist you and push you away if you're not "clothed in humility" in His presence. (1 Peter 5:5) Nothing unclean can be in His presence, even in prayer, unless there is a way made for us. How is it we can approach God's throne at all then?
Can a shadow exist before God? Would not the brightness of His glory and the pure light of His perfect love incinerate any existence of a shadow, or any blemish or wrinkle in your gown? If we come with Christ in our heart and in the Lord Jesus' precious name dressed in "humility", we can walk straight into God the Father's presence without worry of being destroyed by His holiness and perfection. We can be assured of not being "resisted" by Him. Through faith, spiritually married to Christ, we are fellow priests and priestesses of God if we subject ourselves to both Christ's and God's authority and sovereignty forever. (Revelations 1:6; 5:10; 20:6) Like the priests in Moses' day who were the only ones who enjoyed the privilege of being in the presence of God, we now have that same right because of Christ. You and I through faith in Christ can now approach God directly as a priest or priestess if we approach in humility. Resist the tendencies of the flesh that try to take credit for anything that allowed you to be in God's presence in the first place. It's not about you.
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day."
John 6:44 NKJV
We're human. I get it, we're not perfect. (Romans 8:26-27; 8:34) We all have to start somewhere. Inventory your character and examine the basic cornerstone of prayer: "humility". Approach sorrowful because of your sins, sad because you are still clothed in the flesh, and acknowledge God's gift of Christ and Christ's precious name given to you, and the privilege of being called into His family. Realize the great privilege of carrying the title of priest or priestess of God bearing the Name of Christ, a gift given to you…something you did not ask for or had the power to refuse.
God bless you in Christ Jesus the Lord, always.
* Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
* Article itself Copyright © 2020 by WordwaswithGod.com
* Links to verses provided by BibleGateway.com