Prayer is a Privilege

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:36

Prayer is a privilege. It is not just something else on our to do list. As Christians, sometimes it is too easy to take for granted what God has done for us. If we are not careful, we can forget all that we have thanks to Christ's sacrifice. Prayer becomes something else we have to do, instead of a great privilege granted to us through Him. So, we look first at our schedules to see where we might pencil God in, or we make excuses that we don't pray as well as other people, forgetting that God is not impressed by our flowery words or how we took time away from other things to fit Him in. He just wants to spend time with us.

Jesus died a brutal death so that we might have access to God through Him. Through Christ, we may freely enter into the very presence of God. In the Old Testament temple, the Most Holy Place, where the presence of God dwelt, was sealed from view by a curtain. No one was allowed access to this holy room except the high priest on the Day of Atonement, which was only one day a year. This is when sacrifices were made for the nations sins. He himself was not allowed to enter until he had washed, put on special clothes, and made atonement for him and his family.

After Jesus' death on the cross the curtain that separated us from God was torn in two. We now have the privilege through Christ to enter the "Most Holy Place" and know the joy of being in God's holy presence. Jesus ushers us in and says, this one is mine. There we can worship Him, fellowship with Him, receive instruction, cleansing, and comfort from Him. When we think of the great sacrifice that was made so that we might have this kind of close relationship with God, prayer is no longer something we have to do. It becomes a time we look forward to with joy and thankfulness. Enjoy the privilege of your time with God today.

Kim Ratcliffe