Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
“Hebrews 4:16” (KJV)
God Is Not Impressed by Our Show
You can pray out loud.
You can sound spiritual.
You can even teach others about God.
But if your heart is not honest before Him, you are only performing.
In the meeting, there was a strong reminder: you cannot curse someone out, stay bitter with your spouse, hide secret sin, and then act like everything is fine when you pray. You might fool people, but you cannot fool God.
God is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for honest people.
- He already knows where you failed.
- He already knows what you are hiding.
- He already knows what you are ashamed of.
Prayer is not a stage. Prayer is a throne room of grace.
You do not come to impress God. You come because you need Him.
Mercy First, Then Help
Hebrews 4:16 shows the order:
- Come boldly to the throne of grace
- Obtain mercy
- Find grace to help in time of need
Many of us want the help part but skip the mercy part.
We want God to:
- Fix our money
- Fix our family
- Fix our plans
- Bless our projects
But God wants to deal with the heart first.
That means:
- Owning the sin, not excusing it.
- Admitting the bitterness, not covering it.
- Confessing the lust, pride, anger, jealousy, whatever it is.
Mercy is for people who admit they failed.
Grace is for people who admit they need help.
If you pretend you are fine, you block yourself from the mercy that cleanses and the grace that strengthens.
Real Life Example: Angry but Still Praying
Imagine this:
You just had a big argument with your coworker.
You raised your voice, said cutting words, and now you are at your desk, still angry.
Later that day, your church is on a prayer call.
You join, and people are praying passionately. When it is your turn, you pray loud, you use all the right words, you sound strong.
But deep down you know:
- You never repented for your anger.
- You never admitted you were wrong.
- You never asked God to deal with your heart.
On the outside: you look spiritual.
On the inside: you are still wounded and still wounding others.
God is not fooled by religious performance.
But here is the good news:
If in that very moment you say,
“Lord, before I say any more words, I was wrong. My heart is not right. I need Thy mercy. Help me repent. Help me fix what I broke.”
He hears that.
That is real prayer. That is surrender. That is a heart He can cleanse, heal, and use.
Do Not Pray Alone in the Dark
In the conversation, there was another strong warning: when you fall and stay alone, the enemy uses accusation and condemnation to destroy you.
- You feel too dirty to come back to God.
- You feel too ashamed to go back to church.
- You feel too unworthy to join the group again.
So you pull away. You go silent.
And the enemy turns up the volume: “See, you are fake. You will never change. God is tired of you. People would reject you if they knew.”
But when you come back into real fellowship, something powerful happens:
- You hear others share their battles.
- You realize you are not the only one struggling.
- You sense a deep cleansing just by walking in the light with others.
God often sends His help through people:
- A brother’s encouragement
- A sister’s testimony
- A shared prayer that breaks shame off you
If you only want help directly from heaven but refuse help through community, you are rejecting part of the way God chose to answer your prayers.
What To Do Today
This is not the time to play church.
This is not the time to be a performer.
This is the time to get real with God.
Come Honest, Not Hiding
When you pray today, before you ask for anything else, lay it all out:
- “Lord, I did this.”
- “My heart feels like this.”
- “I am still angry about this.”
- “I am still tempted by this.”
Do not clean it up. Do not soften it. Say it plainly.
This is not disrespect. This is truth, and God already knows.
Ask for Mercy, Then Help
Say something like:
- “Father, I need Thy mercy for this sin.”
- “I need grace to actually change, not just feel bad.”
God is not surprised by your weakness. He already knew you needed help. That is why He told you to come to the throne of grace.
Stop Performing for People
If you pray in public, serve in ministry, sing, teach, or lead in any way, check your heart:
- Am I trying to look strong while ignoring what God is trying to confront in me?
- Am I more worried about my image than my obedience?
- Am I willing to let God deal with me in private before I speak in public?
God will anoint a sincere, imperfect person before He anoints a talented, dishonest performer.
Loving Warning
If you keep performing, keep hiding, and keep resisting the Spirit’s conviction, you are in danger.
- Your heart will grow harder.
- Your prayers will turn into empty words.
- Your ministry will become about ego, not Jesus.
Why keep doing all the God stuff and still end up far from Him?
Why serve, sing, preach, or pray publicly while refusing to repent privately?
If you are going to call on Jesus, be real with Him.
If you are going to gather with believers, be honest with them.
If you are going to say you follow Christ, actually follow Him: in your thoughts, in your choices, in your secret life.
This is a loving warning, but also a hopeful invitation:
You can start over today.
Action Steps for Today
- Be brutally honest in prayer: Spend 10 to 15 minutes telling God the real state of your heart: sins, fears, struggles, without hiding.
- Reach out to one brother or sister: Share one real struggle and ask them to pray with you and check in on you this week.
- Set three prayer check points: Morning, midday, and night: short but sincere times to realign your heart with God and ask for mercy and help.
Right now, do not delay: come to the throne of grace just as you are, and let Jesus deal with your heart today, not tomorrow.
