In my social media pages and email groups, I often receive requests for prayer. Someone needs healing. Someone needs a miracle. Someone needs a touch from God. Someone needs something and wants a multitude of prayers going up. When I see those requests, I try to offer a prayer right then – to pray a prayer of intercession. God commands us to “pray for each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:16 NIV) and to “always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18 NIV).
I find intercessory prayer easy, since we are often taught to think of others and to put others’ needs ahead of our own. To not do so labels us as selfish. Unfortunately, this lesson spills over into my prayer life. While I will readily pray for others, I tend to feel self-conscious and selfish when praying for myself. It is almost embarrassing to talk about myself to God. Isn’t talking about myself self-centered? Is praying to God about my own needs, wants, and desires selfish?
Here again it is that old devil who is whispering in my ear “Ignore yourself; God isn’t interested in what you have to say.” Fortunately, Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) refutes that.
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.
I approach God’s throne of grace through prayer. In this epistle, I am told that I need to express to God my needs. I am encouraged to pray for myself. I should do so without censor and with faith that He hears me. Furthermore, this Scripture says I should be confident when I approach God. Confidence is the opposite of timidity. It is the opposite of self-consciousness. A confident person is not too embarrassed to speak. I should be confident in my prayers simply because I know God is near me whenever I pray. (ref Deuteronomy 4:7) And, in those moments when I am not sure how to express myself to God or feel I do not have the right words, I can rely on the Holy Spirit to intercede for me.
Here is what I concluded when I spiritually engaged with Hebrews 4:16:
- Praying for myself is important and necessary. It is only I who can share with God the specifics of my heart.
- Praying for myself shows a reverence for God. It shows that I believe His word when He tells me to present my requests to the Lord by prayer and petition. (ref Philippians 4:6)
- Praying for myself strengthens my relationship with God. By approaching with confidence, I feel more calm in my prayer and better connected to God.
Of course, you should continue with your intercessory prayers. But do not neglect interceding for yourself.
Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, A “throne of grace” means I can approach you where I am and receive forgiveness, grace, comfort, joy, inspiration, peace. Because you and I have worked on building this relationship, I can pray for myself with confidence. For this, I thank you Lord. Amen.
