Hebrews 4:16 “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

On the surface, this might almost seem like a contradictory and somewhat confusing statement. When someone is in need of mercy, they have done something wrong for which the penalty is either severe or unthinkable. When you imagine someone seeking mercy, you most likely see them on their knees begging. Grace is unmerited or undeserved favor. Again, a person in need of grace is someone whose life has gotten beyond them, someone who is in a situation for which there appears no escape or no good options. Someone in need of mercy or grace should be in no position to approach the one who dispenses mercy and grace boldly. Contritely, surely. Pleadingly, for certain. But boldly? Why can Christians come boldly? Is it because we deserve mercy or grace? Absolutely not. Is it because we are owed something or perhaps are valuable in some other way? Ridiculous. Then why boldly? It is because with the confidence of a child in their Father, we know we will not be refused. Such is the love of our God, that when repentance turns our hearts toward him, his grace will always be sufficient and his mercies always new every morning.

Pray: “Lord God, it is by grace alone that I make my way through this world and each and every time I fall, your mercy catches me. Any boldness I feel in coming to you is not because of my own feelings of worthiness but because of my absolute trust in your love and your word which says your grace is enough and your mercies new each morning. Thank you, Lord, that I never have to wonder whether you will take me back. In Jesus matchless name I give you praise and thanks – Amen.”