Beyond the Veil

Imagine life without a prayer . . . for the mother whose son is on drugs, for the man who sits at the bedside of a terminally ill wife, for the abused and confused child . . . imagine.

But, we don’t have to imagine life without prayer –– unless we don’t pray.

How many people have you spoken with who are experiencing a desperate time in need of prayer? Even if they don’t ask for prayer, somehow our automatic response is to say we will. There is a need for the power and presence of something greater than all of us . . . all of this.

But, how can the presence of God come to us unless we go into His presence?

It’s not like He’s a distant deity that can’t be located.

In the Old Testament, people couldn’t just walk into the Holy Place and ask for God’s mercy. Mankind was separated from Yahweh with a thread barrier woven strong with sin. The Temple veil was sixty feet high, thirty feet wide and four inches thick.

And man could not move it.

With the last breath of Jesus, it tore wide open from top to bottom, giving instant and unlimited access to the holiest place. When He nailed our flawed performance to the cross in the Good Friday moment – it was finished and we’re no longer in the outer court.

Think about it. We’ve been given the unique-amazing-too-much-to-comprehend- privilege to actually come into the presence of God.  God!

And be heard.

What keeps us from this sacred spot? We’re crushed with tasks and schedules that rob us of intimacy with our loving Father who desires fellowship. So, our mindset fulfills the “weakly” obligation as pew potatoes by stringing a few stale words together to sit before a King.

If we’re not careful we might mend the veil, stitch by neglectful stitch, to cover Him back up.

How often I’ve failed to simply invest time at His feet by allowing too many other things to get in the way.

So, what if you . . . and I . . . clean out a hallowed place in our prayer closet and make room for the throne? Tremble in the awesome knowledge that we can confidently approach the throne of grace . . . anywhere, anytime. And he will be faithful to meet us wherever we are.

Many times my throne room has been my car or a hospital waiting room. As it is today . . . . in His presence.

And so, we don’t have to imagine life without prayer – unless we don’t pray.