“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.” Hebrews 4:16 NIV
My word for this New Year 2024 is “prayer” because I realize I need to develop a deeper relationship with God and His Word.
In Christian circles, there’s a popular saying “Take it to the Throne before you take it to the phone.” This means that we should always go to God first before calling a trusted friend, family member, or mental health resource. He has all the answers we need and is the only One who will never fail us. God is the only one who can meet our every need right on time.
Gratefully, God also helps us through His people here on Earth. He has given some the gift of counseling and healing, for example. Again, the key is to seek God’s help first and then do what He tells you to do. That might be resting in Him, leaving the situation in His hands to solve, and/or taking it to someone who can support you.
A few weeks ago, I discovered the song “Take it to Jesus” by Anna Golden featuring Kari Jobe. It is now my theme song for my word this year. This song opens with uncertainty and speaks to us when we’re in a place of not knowing what to do in a moment of pain. It’s for us when no words from anyone in our lives can ease our pain or when nothing in our lives seems to make sense. Golden and Jobe encourage listeners to take all of the shattered pieces of our lives, like unhealed wounds or grief and doubt, to a sacred place where we can always find help. That “place” is a person. We are to take our pain and anxiety to Jesus Christ.
The Bible says that God hears us before we speak (Isaiah 65:24). Jesus is the place where we can find peace and rest. We can leave our worries with Him. The best part is that He’s never rushing us out of His presence. Jesus has all the time in the world for us. We can unpack our pain bit by bit and lament. He’s always listening and ready to help, never tiring of hearing about what troubles us.
The God we serve is full of grace and mercy. He won’t punish us nor turn us away from approaching His Throne and asking Him to help us. He wants us to express our needs to Him. God desires to be there for us. He wants to help us survive the trials of life and make it to heaven. We’ll never be forsaken when we trust Him.
As we continue in this new year, I encourage you to take it to Jesus before you take it to anyone else. Going to God first builds intimacy and trust in our relationship with Him. It doesn’t mean that we won’t still need to reach out to someone else later, but we will have the peace and wisdom we need from the King of Kings. Allow God to shower you with His love, grace, mercy, and provision. I believe that we make God smile when we show Him that we trust Him enough to go to Him before anyone else. It makes His heart happy to know that we trust Him and believe everything He promises us in His Word (The Holy Bible).
I know from personal experience that in past struggles when I did decide to take it to Jesus Christ first, He gave me a peace that passes all of my understanding. I felt better and renewed from talking to Him about what was on my heart. Jesus filled me up so well that I didn’t take it to the phone thereafter and I felt stronger. God wants to do the same for you!
Let’s Pray: Dear God, Thank You for always being available to us. You are our greatest resource and, even better, You are a Good Father who wants to provide for all of His children. Help us to take it to Your Throne before we take it to the phone. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Ben White
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Originally published Thursday, 25 January 2024.
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