A Note from Michael Gossett
Bold Life of Prayer
We have a common saying at our church: every number has a name, every name has a story, and every story matters to God. The problem we all face is that every story also has a scar attached to it. A scar is something painful that you remember from your past. In the smoky haze of life’s battles, we all carry scars. Some are visible, but most are not. Some come from decisions we made that we are not proud of, but others come from wounds we never asked for.
A father sits alone in his truck after dropping off his kids, trying to mask the pain of a broken marriage. That’s a scar. A young woman scrolls endlessly through social media, battling insecurity and shame while smiling in public. That’s a scar. A widowed man walks into church, sits in the same pew he shared with his wife for so many years, and fights back the tears. That’s a scar. A couple quietly endure another negative pregnancy test while trying to rejoice with friends at baby showers. That’s a scar. A man hides the history of addiction, doing his best to stay clean, terrified someone will find out. That’s a scar.
Even the strongest Christians carry scars. However, there is still good news. God doesn’t waste your story, and He redeems your scars. The Lord often meets us most deeply, not in our strength, but in the weakness of our scars.
In my office, I have a reminder of my “former” life. Hanging on the wall of my office is my old fire helmet. That helmet tells its own story. It hangs on the wall, dented, scratched, burnt, and smoke-stained. Some of those marks are from real danger, but the eagle bent on the front of the helmet came from something less heroic. One day, I was in a hurry getting to my next shift, and I put my gear in the back of the car and slammed the trunk on top of it, bending it. I wish I had a better story to tell you, but I don’t. All the other marks have some pretty cool stories, though!
We all have to experience the fires of life, and our hearts, bodies, and minds are proof of this. In fire school, one of the first things you learn as a firefighter is to enter a burning building low to the ground. The heat rises, but the lower you remain, the better off you are as you search for victims or attack with the hose line. This is the same training you and I must adhere to in our walk with the Lord. The lower you go in prayer, the greater the confidence you’ll find. Confidence isn’t found in standing tall but rather in kneeling low before a sovereign God.
This is the beauty of 1 John 5:14-15. When life leaves us marked and weary, prayer becomes the battlefield where boldness is born. 1 John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
John is writing to believers with full assurance of their salvation. He wants them to know that eternal life isn’t just a future promise—it’s a present reality that gives birth to confident prayer. This is not name-it-and-claim-it mysticism. This is the spiritual birthright of the redeemed: to approach the throne of grace boldly and with reverence (Heb. 4:16).
But how do we pray like that?
Here are four truths about prayer that will ignite boldness in your life:
1. PRAY TO YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER
John begins with this clear yet crucial element of prayer: “This is the confidence we have before him.” The phrase “before Him” is no small matter that can be overlooked. It implies nearness, welcome, and a relationship with the Father. Adoption is one of the highest privileges of salvation. We are not just declared righteous (justification); we are brought into the family of God (adoption). And what do children do with a good father? They run to Him.
Jesus Himself taught us to pray in the same way. When you pray, pray like this: “Our Father who art in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9). Prayer is not transactional – it is relational. We are not employees speaking to a CEO; rather, we are children speaking to a Father. The Lord is not just any father, He is the King of Glory, seated on the throne, reigning in righteousness. John Calvin emphasized that God does not hear us because of the excellence of our words, but because of the relationship we have through Christ: “He calls us to Himself so that our hearts may be inflamed with a zealous and burning desire of seeking Him.” Our prayers are not effective because they are impressive. They are effective because they are directed to the right person. When we kneel before our Father, we kneel with confidence – not in ourselves, but in the covenant love of God who invites us to come.
We do not come to the Father on our own merit. We come in the name of Jesus. John 14:13-14 says, “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” To pray in the name of Jesus is not a formula. It is a confession. It is a declaration that my only right to be in this throne room and my only right to be heard is because of Christ. The position of our lives and the power of our prayers are only based on our union with Christ. This is why Hebrews 10:19-22 urges us to “enter the Sanctuary through the blood of Jesus” WITH “full assurance of faith.” Imagine being given a key card to enter the White House. You go up to the front door and you start knocking, but no one will let you in. The problem is that the key card only works with the president. As soon as the president walks up, that key card means something different. You have been given a key card, and you have been given the person to make the key card matter. His name is Jesus. Martin Luther warned against self-reliant prayer, stating, “If I am heard because of my fervor, then I have replaced Christ.” No, we are heard because of Jesus. It was the blood of Christ that tore the veil of separation between God and man. Now, we enter not as a distant participant, but as a child who belongs to the family. Thomas Watson said, “Christ’s blood is the key that opens heaven’s gate; prayer is the hand that turns the key.” Every time you pray in Jesus’ name, heaven’s door swings open.
One of the greatest hindrances to effective prayer is the bitterness of unforgiveness that we often carry in our hearts. Jesus made a profound statement in Mark 11:25: “Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you.” The implication here is unavoidable. A bitter heart will strangle bold prayer. Psalm 66:18 says, “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”
This means that you and I must take sin seriously, and we must take unforgiveness toward others seriously. Sin and unforgiveness are always relationally disruptive with others and with the Lord. It cannot and will not remove our justification, but it will disrupt our communion with God and therefore hinder our prayers. The Heidelberg Catechism says, “A heart rightly attuned to God’s will” must be the posture of our prayers. Unforgiveness is dissension in the soul.
Imagine trying to make a phone call without a cell signal. You have the words, the desire, and even the need, yet you never get through. So, it is with a prayer life weighed down by unrepented sin or unresolved bitterness.
1 John 5:14b says, “If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” This is not a condition to limit our prayer but rather an invitation to align ourselves with God’s best for our lives and His eternal purposes. Prayer is one of the ordained means by which God accomplishes His will in our lives and the world. It is not that we change God’s mind or change His plans, but God uses our prayers to change our hearts and shape His outcomes.
George Müller, who documented over 50,000 specific answers to prayer, famously said: “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance; it is laying hold of His willingness.”
Jesus Himself modeled this in Gethsemane: “Not My will, but Yours be done.” This wasn’t a resignation—it was surrender rooted in trust. We are called to that same posture. Our prayers should echo Scripture, breathe out promises, and reflect the character of God. And when we do not know what to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Rom. 8:26).
To pray in faith is not to demand outcomes—it is to trust the One who holds them.
How would you grade your personal prayer life? Prayer is not a peripheral Christian practice for the “serious” Christians. It is the pulse of a vibrant faith and committed walk with Him.
Can I encourage you? Set aside time every day to be in unhurried, intentional prayer.
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful?
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.
A Prayer for today:
Gracious Father,
Thank you for the access we have through Jesus Christ. Thank you for not only hearing our prayers but also delighting in them. Forgive me for my pride, my bitterness, my coldness. Teach me to pray with confidence—not because I am strong, but because Christ is. Shape my heart to your will. Let my private prayers fuel public holiness. And help me to always remember that when I am on my knees, I am in the strongest position of all.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This Sunday, we continue our special Legacy series as we look at “The Legacy of Faith” from Psalm 78. This week, we are celebrating 70 years of God’s faithfulness at Green Acres!
God has entrusted us with a message that’s too powerful to keep to ourselves. Psalm 78 reminds us that if we want the future to know Jesus, we must be faithful in the present to teach, live, and share His truth. Bring someone with you this Sunday — a friend, a neighbor, a coworker, or even someone who hasn’t been in church for a while. Invite them to hear what it means to live a life that outlasts us, and how legacy isn’t about what we leave behind… but who we bring with us to the feet of Jesus.
Join us at Green Acres this Sunday — and let’s continue building a legacy that points every generation to Christ.
Shane & Shane Modern Hymns Live – May 9
Join us for an unforgettable night of worship as Shane & Shane and The Worship Initiative bring the Modern Hymns album to life in a special collaboration with the Green Acres Choir & Orchestra. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to worship together and be encouraged by the beautiful blend of modern and classic hymns. Get your tickets here!
Starting Point – May 18
If you have just recently joined our church or are considering church membership, this brunch is for you! This is a great way to get to know our church better. Starting Point will be on May 18 at 9:30 am in Crosswalk C (above the café). If you, or someone you know, would like to learn more about GABC, please sign up online at gabc.org.
You are loved and prayed for!
Michael Gossett