Approach God with Confidence

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12 )
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:15, 16)

Loving Father,

Though you are all powerful and though you are holy and perfect and righteous, and though you
 judge sin without tolerance, these children have a high priest in Jesus, who has paid the price for their sin and who sympathizes with their weaknesses. I pray they understand that fact and believe it deeply. May they feel that they not only can approach your throne without being struck dead, but may they understand that they can approach with confidence, their head held high as sons and daughters of the King, royalty.

May they believe that your throne is truly a throne of grace, where they will always find mercy for their shortcomings and will find your grace which supplies all their needs. May they comprehend that in approaching your throne they also find freedom, freedom from the law of bondage, freedom to live out your Son's Great Command, to love others as he has loved them, freedom from the fear of condemnation, freedom from guilt. May this confidence and freedom allow them to live in joy, rather than dread, in your presence.

Amen