Encouragement for Your Week: July 19-25
This Week’s Verse
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.
— Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)
Devotion
In the Old Testament, the religious rituals and animal sacrifices required by the Law of Moses were only a preview of what was to come. They were mere shadows of a greater reality. The ultimate reality arrived with Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice on the cross was entirely permanent and perfect.
Under the old system, human priests could only enter the earthly "Holy of Holies"—the most sacred room in the temple—to make amends for the people's sins. Jesus, by contrast, is our ultimate High Priest. He did not enter a physical building; instead, He entered heaven itself to represent us before God (Hebrews 4:14).
Furthermore, those Old Testament sacrifices had to be repeated year after year, yet they could never truly purify anyone. Jesus’ sacrifice was fundamentally different. It was a once-and-for-all event that possesses the actual power to make us holy (Hebrews 10).
Because Christ’s sacrifice is so superior, we can have absolute confidence in Him and His ongoing intercession for us. We can approach God boldly. Through Jesus, we have been made holy, which means we no longer have to live in fear of God's rejection. Though we were once spiritually distant, we have now been brought near (Ephesians 2:13).
When we approach God's throne with confidence, the Bible promises we will receive His mercy. This means we receive His daily forgiveness for the mistakes and shortcomings we still battle. Because Jesus already paid the penalty for our sins, we can step into God’s presence and freely receive the mercy He secured for us.
In addition to mercy, we also receive God's grace—His unearned favor, blessing, and practical help. The Bible reassures us that this grace arrives precisely "when we need it most." When we face the trials of life, we can boldly ask for strength, fully expecting God to intervene.
If you have been feeling hesitant, timid, or unworthy in your prayer life, let this week be a turning point. Begin approaching Him with confidence and high expectations. He does not sit on a throne of judgment, but on a throne of grace.
What is an area of your life right now where you feel hesitant or unworthy to ask for help, and how would approaching God "boldly" change the way you pray about it?