Friendship Breeds Boldness

The Power of Simple Prayer: How to Talk with God about Everything
by Joyce Meyer

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Similarly, friendship with God brings boldness in prayer. Writing about this matter, Charles Spurgeon notes that "love knocks at [God's] door until He opens."3 We will press on and be persistent when we know that God has what we need and wants to share with us because we are His friends. On the other hand, if we are not secure in our relationship with Him, we may be hesitant or tentative when we approach Him.

I believe God is looking for men and women who will pray bold prayers. One of the prayers I hear people pray often, and have prayed many times myself, is what I call a "just" prayer. We do it so many times and are usually unaware of it. A "just" prayer sounds something like this: "Now, Lord, we just thank You for this food"; "God, we just ask You to protect us"; "Father, we just come to You tonight..."; "Oh, God, if You would just help us in this situation, we would be so thankful...." Do you see what I mean? We sound as if we are afraid to ask God for very much. That's not the way we talk to good friends!

The word "just" can mean righteous or fair, but it can also mean barely enough to get by or by a narrow margin. God wants to give us exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond all that we can dare to hope, ask, or think (see Ephesians 3:20). Why should we approach Him asking for barely enough to get by on? Why should we approach God, our friend, as if we are afraid to ask for too much? When we approach Him that way, it seems as if we do not believe He is generous and good. We must realize that He is not a God who gives "just" enough to barely get by, but He desires to bless us abundantly, to open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings so great that we cannot contain them (see Malachi 3:10).

He wants to hear bold, confident, faith-filled prayers prayed by truly just and righteous people who are secure in their friendship with Him.

Sometimes punctuating our prayers with "justs" is simply a habit, and if so, we need to break it. God does not want to hear sheepish, insecure "just" prayers. He wants to hear bold, confident, faith-filled prayers prayed by truly just and righteous people who are secure in their friendship with Him. Always be respectful toward God as you approach Him, but do not be afraid! The Bible instructs us to have reverential fear and awe, but it never tells us to draw back in fear. As a matter of fact, Hebrews 10:38 tells us that if we draw back in fear, God's soul has no delight or pleasure in us.

Friendship Benefits Others

When we are friends with God, that friendship not only benefits us, it also benefits those around us. When people come to us with needs or concerns, we may be able to offer some help, but we may not be able to meet their needs at all. Even if we do not have what people really need, God does. When we are friends with God, we can say to people, "I don't have what you need, but I know Someone who does. I'll ask my friend! I will intercede before God for you." When we are friends of God, we know that He has the power to intervene in people's circumstances, to help their children stop using drugs, to bring financial breakthroughs, to work medical miracles, or to reconcile marriages. The more intimately we know God, the more confident we are in His willingness and ability to help people. When they come to us, we can go to Him and know He will come through for them. We can actually ask God to do us a favor and help someone we love even when we know that they don't deserve it. We can pray with compassion out of a heart of love - and God hears and answers.

I can remember being very sad about my father's spiritual condition. He abused me when I was a child and for many years I truly hated and resented him for it. Praying for him was the last thing I would have done or wanted to do. However, as I grew closer to God and learned His ways, I realized I not only needed to completely forgive my father, but that I also needed to pray for his salvation. God gave me the grace to forgive my dad and a heart of compassion toward him.

For many years, I prayed at various times for my father to come to know Jesus, but I never saw even the slightest change in him. He had always been a very hard-hearted man and I saw no signs that his heart was softening at all. I was discouraged and thought it was useless to keep praying.

Then God asked me to do one of the most difficult things He has ever asked of me. He asked me to move my parents close to where we lived, buy them a house, and take care of them until they died. At the time, they were in their early seventies. Since we have longevity in our family bloodline, I knew that moving them nearby might well mean years and years of taking care of someone who had never done anything but hurt me. I was less than enthusiastic about the situation and God dealt with me for quite a while until I finally knew I had to obey.

© 2007 by Joyce Meyer

About the Author

JOYCE MEYER has been teaching the Word of God since 1976 and in full-time ministry since 1980. She is the bestselling author of more than fifty inspirational books, including How to Hear from God, Knowing God Intimately, and Battlefield of the Mind. She has also released thousands of teaching cassettes and a complete video library. Joyce's Enjoying Everyday Life radio and television programs are broadcast around the world, and she travels extensively conducting conferences.