It's a common thing that I hear from new believers how they're afraid to approach the Lord because they don't think that they are worthy. This is also a common issue even for many long-time believers.
As a result, many in the Body of Christ are oppressed by the devil in one way or the other just as how sickness is welcomed and received by many believers thinking that it's a test from the Lord so they have to accept it. Correction: sickness comes from the devil, not from the Lord. Jesus, among a number of reasons, came to bring complete healing and it must never be overlooked. By His stripes, we are healed.
A lot of the benefits of the New Covenant are not benefited from because a lot of Christians don't know how to present themselves before Jesus to ask.
Jesus Christ is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He holds the answer to everything, He has provision available for anything, but we have come before Him and ask.
Queen Esther is the perfect illustration as to how to approach a king.
On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, ...And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. Esther 5:1-2
What Esther did approaching King Ahasuerus uninvited was against the Babylonian law and was punishable by death. Esther knew that coming before the king could mean the end of her life which is why she said the iconic words, "If I perish, I perish." But she came anyway. She came to intercede on behalf of all the Jewish people in her time.
Esther put on her royal robes. She knew her standing in the kingdom. She was the queen and she dressed as such. We, as believers, stand in the same royal position as Esther. 1 Peter 2:9 says about us, "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood." And we can have the same confidence as Esther had when we come before the Lord Jesus Christ.
If we think that the Lord doesn't want us, it's a lie of the devil to keep us away from praying. This greatly hinders the blessings of the Lord to manifest in our lives, in our prayers, and in our needs. King Ahasuerus's response to Esther is the same way that Jesus responds to us when we come to Him.
And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight. Esther had not yet even said a single word. Her presence alone won the king's favor. You see, this is how much the Lord Jesus Christ loves us. This is a picture of how much He wants us in His presence that the moment we stand, we stand in His favor. He wants us to come before Him.
And the king said to her, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you, even to half of my kingdom." Esther 5:3
At this point, Esther still had not yet said a word, and here we find the king very eager to give her whatever she would ask for.
Many times, we don't have because we don't ask the right person. We ask our friends, our families, whoever people we can reach out to, but we forget that there's a King who cares for us and is just waiting for us to come and ask.
It shall be given to you, even to half of my kingdom.
What do you need from the Lord? Is it healing? Deliverance? The Salvation of loved ones? Is it material or financial provision? Is it guidance? Think of whatever you are in need of. The Lord is saying, it shall be given to you, even to half of my kingdom. But take note that before the king says this, he first asks, "What is your request?"
The Lord accepts us just the way we are. By the blood of Jesus, we are already made righteous by faith and we have a right standing before Him. Our salvation takes away our commoner garments and clothes us with royal robes. And so, we are allowed to have the audacity to ask Him for whatever we could possibly need. He encourages it. He is glorified when our requests are granted.
How do we present ourselves before the King, then? The answer is just one word: boldly.
The Babylonian law did not permit anyone to enter the king's presence without being summoned. The Kingdom of God, on the other hand, has its doors wide open for anyone who is willing to enter. Are you?
Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
