Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.  Romans 5:1-2 (NLT).

I like that translation of these scriptures. “… because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.”  The Gospel is what HE has done for us.

Yesterday’s post was a reminder that when we pray that we should not rely on our own goodness and spirituality to be accepted by God the Father. No problem with that statement, right? I sure am glad that my acceptance with God is not based on my goodness and how good of a Christian I am. That would be total and complete failure … for you, me, and everyone else. This is why the Gospel is liberating. This means that if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ for reconciling us with God, then my goodness and spirituality are not included in the equation of being accepted and loved by God. I could write and preach on this simple truth for days, even weeks, because all that I am and live by, and live and die for, hinges on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1-2 is liberating news. It is ALL because of Jesus Christ our Lord.

How could this simple truth of the Gospel be offensive in our prayer life?

When you pray:  If you are not conscious that the Gospel is How and Why you are able to pray, then you are at the least taking the Gospel for granted, and at the worst–feeling good about you’re current Christian walk and that the Father must be pleased (and proud) with your efforts enough to listen to your prayers. The latter is self-righteousness, and the former is irreverent and a low esteem of the Gospel. Either mindset makes your prayers offensive to God. Seriously offensive to God.

Are you offended by that last paragraph? Hang on and keep reading.

Every time that you enter your devotional time with God you should be keenly aware that you are relying on and approaching the Living God in Christ’s righteousness, that is, because of the Gospel. If you are not consciously minded of this absolute truth when you are in time of prayer, then you are not aware of your unworthiness apart from the Him. If you are not aware of your own unworthiness, then you’re not throwing yourself on the righteousness of Christ as your robe of acceptance before the Throne of Grace.

Is that tough to swallow?

I’m not saying that you should beat yourself down and remind yourself of all your foolish sins and selfishness before you talk to God. I am saying that you should be mindful of HOW you are able to approach Him. Perhaps we should put the phrase–“In Jesus Name” at the beginning of our prayers rather than at the end. If we did this we might be more mindful of Whose righteousness we are relying upon. What I am saying is, if you’re not mindful of the Gospel when you pray, then you’re not mindful of the depravity of your sin and how and why it offends God. The reason that you are conscious of Christ making you worthy in prayer is because you are well aware of your wretchedness apart from Him. You and I must be mindful during prayer that it is the Gospel that makes prayer possible.

Did you get that? I know my desperate dependence upon Him because I know my desperate condition apart from Him. Another way of saying this is: When I pray, Christ Jesus covers me in His glory. The alternative is that I am attempting to pray covered in my own glory.

As you can see, this ground-level lesson on prayer isn’t just for the Christian who is learning about prayer. It is for every Christian all of the time. Throughout Church history the saints whom we’d call Giants in Prayer were those who were always aware of their desperate dependence upon Christ Jesus during their times in prayer, as well as before and after they stepped out of the proverbial prayer closet.

O’ Spirit of the Living God, keep me mindful of my unworthiness that I may cling with spiritual white-knuckles to the robe of my Savior. I know that there is nothing in me that makes me worthy to pray. I know that Christ Jesus has made me and keeps me wholly acceptable of grace and mercy. The eyes of the Lord are upon the just–those who are justified by Christ, and His ear is open to their prayers. The Father delights in me because I am in Christ. Yes, Christ in me; Christ before me; Christ behind me; Christ beside me; Christ upon me; Christ is my all in all. He enables me to approach with full confidence of faith and know that I am in the presence of God. To Christ, God the Son be the glory forever and ever. Amen!