Bending His gracious ear to sinful worms

(John Fawcett, "Christ Precious")

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16.

The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous—and His ears are ever open to their cries. Whoever else may overlook or disappoint them—He will not. When their spirits are overwhelmed within them—He knows their path. When human means and efforts fail, when everything looks dark before them, when their way seems to be shut up on every side, and they are brought to the lowest ebb—still they have welcome access to the Divine throne, where they may tell all their needs, and unbosom all their cares and sorrows—with the certain hope of obtaining mercy, and finding grace to help in the time of need.

Prayer is not only a duty—but an inestimable privilege! The condescension of God is wonderful, in bending His gracious ear to sinful worms. When the heart of a Christian is under a proper influence—he finds a greater pleasure in approaching the Divine throne, than in anything this world can afford. He obtains more light, strength, comfort and refreshment, by one hour's converse with God—than he could do by any other means!

What an unspeakable privilege it is—to have liberty of access to God! To have His permission, nay, His invitation and command—to come boldly to His throne of grace! Amidst surrounding dangers, snares and temptations—we may fly to Him as our refuge, and lift up our hearts to Him in fervent and earnest prayer. To Him we may tell all our inmost cares—and open all our griefs. His ears are always attentive to our requests!

In the exercises of private devotion—we may nourish and express all the holy affections of our souls, with the greatest freedom. We may say a thousand things to our heavenly Father in secret—which would not be proper in public devotion. We may pour out our souls before Him, in the strongest and most pathetic sentiments of holy desire, and divine delight. We may tell Him all the disquietudes of our consciences, the secret anguish and shame of our hearts—because of those offenses which are known to Him alone. We may sigh deeply, and pour out the tear of penitence into His bosom. We may tell Him how intense our desires are—to experience more of His love, and to be conformed to His image. We may rejoice in His sight with divine exultation and holy triumph, in the prospect of being shortly with Him in the heavenly world!

Let the favorites of an earthly prince, value themselves on being permitted to hold converse with their sovereign; I would ever esteem it a privilege infinitely superior—to have free and welcome access to the King of kings!