Praying with Confidence

A few weeks ago, I was facing a big interview. A lot had happened to lead up to this point and it had been a bumpy, uncertain road. I had battled with the Lord on whether to apply and after a lot of searching and praying, I felt called to do so. I battled with Him because I didn’t feel ready, or equipped, or smart enough, or… ready. (Yes, I know I used “ready” twice, but it was warranted.)

I had lots of fears of what stepping into this position could mean for me and my family. It was liberating to write down each of those fears and hand them over to Him. It was also assuring to read over and over in His Word about the simple-minded, ill-equipped, terrified, anxious people God called to do extraordinary, powerful, life-changing, only-God-can types of miracles. I heard Him loud and clear, “Apply for the job! If this is my plan for you, I will equip you.”

The weekend before the interview, I was running and talking to Him about it when the thought entered my mind to pray for myself as I would pray for another candidate. If you’ve read any of my blogs before, you may recall that when God hits me with a powerful thought during a run, it overwhelms me, the waterfall of tears ensue, and I have to walk for risk of hyperventilation. Well, that’s just what happened. As I began to pray for this “other candidate” the words just rushed out without any hesitation. I prayed that this person would realize the courage, and hope, and peace she already had through the Lord. I prayed she would have confidence in the spiritual equipment God had already given her. I prayed for her mind to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit and rely on Him for focus, clarity, and discernment. I prayed that she wouldn’t ugly cry through her interview because she loves the people impacted and is so emotionally invested. (Ok, ok! That one was personal and I was no longer picturing another candidate.)

It was mind-boggling how I prayed with so much more confidence when I lifted this request to Him as if it was for someone else. Think of how easy it is to pray God’s Word, His blessings, and His provisions for a friend, or a family member, or a co-worker. It is so easy for me to think of the words to say to encourage others or to recognize Satan working to try to separate others from God. I can pray for others using scripture and God’s promises with ease. But it’s a different story when I try to do the same for myself. The confidence just isn’t there. User Error!

Romans 8:26 says, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (NIV) I believe I came to a point on my run where I wasn’t exactly sure what or how to pray and the Might H.S. helped me out!

1 John 5:14-15 states,

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (NIV)

This is the confidence I should be praying with. The same gusto I pray with for others should be the same gusto I pray over myself. He’s the same God. I looked up the meaning of the word “confidence” as it’s used in this scripture. It comes from the Greek word Parrhesia, which means “free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance.“

When’s the last time you prayed for yourself, in God’s will, with free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, and assurance. You should try it! If it helps to imagine you’re praying for someone else, go for it. I’m so grateful for this experience! It opened my eyes to the fact that I need to pray over God’s will for my life with the same boldness and confidence I use to pray for others.

Bonus Material: I woke up around 1:25 this morning and couldn’t get back to sleep. At 1:55, I decided to go ahead and get up to begin my day. I’m not making this next part up. My devotion this morning chronicled people in the Bible God woke up in the middle of the night because He had a message for them or had something he wanted them to do. (Insert big googly eyes).

I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe in divine interventions. God has been tapping me for several weeks now, reminding me that He called me to write. I’ve put it off because I am now in the above-mentioned position I prayed about and am struggling to keep my head above water. As I finished my devotion, it hit me that maybe He woke me up to write. I was also able to spend an extended, unrushed amount of time with Him in which He led me to some comforting scripture in Psalm 23-24. I sure did need those reminders about Him being my Shepherd, guiding my path, and being my refuge. If you’re struggling to get it all done or manage through a lot of stress, I would highly recommend a visit to Psalm chapters 23-24. They sure did change my outlook.

While I may be hittin’ the coffee hard this afternoon and wishing I was still young enough for a mid-day nap time, I sure am grateful that He loves me enough to wake me up in the middle of the night and give me exactly what I need.

“Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, FOR I TAKE REFUGE IN YOU.” Psalm 26:20 NIV (emphasis mine)