“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” – 1 John 3:1 (NKJV)
Picture this: a stranger tries to enter a royal palace to see the king uninvited. He is stopped at the gate, questioned, and turned away. But when the king’s child approaches, the gates swing open, the guards stand aside, and he walks in boldly to see his Father. No protocol. No hesitation. His identity is his access.
That is exactly what prayer is for you as a believer. You don’t approach God as a stranger or an outsider; you come as His beloved child. Your prayers are not effective because of how long you pray, how loud you pray, or how eloquent you sound. The power of prayer begins with who is praying.
The Bible says, “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much”(James 5:16b). It doesn’t say “the prayer of a perfect man.” It says the prayer of a righteous man. And here is the good news: by Christ’s death and resurrection, you have been made righteous. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
This changes everything. You are not an employee trying to impress a boss. You are a son or daughter, adopted into God’s family, carrying the rights and privileges of a child of the Most High. There is no veil, no chain of command, no locked door keeping you out that can block your access. You’re not an outsider peeking in; you’re seated at the table.
So, when you pray, you are not speaking to a distant figure of authority; you are speaking to your Father. A loving Father who leans in to listen, and cannot forget or forsake His children (Isaiah 49:15). That is God’s heart towards you. Dear believer, never forget who is praying and who you are praying to. You are not pleading with a wicked judge, reluctant to bless you. You are communing with your Father, One who delights in you, hears you, and responds.
Pray from that place of identity and assurance. Let your confidence rise from knowing that your Father loves you and that in Christ, the gates are always open.
Bible Reading Plan: Isaiah 16–18; Ephesians 1:15–2:10