Second, joy in prayer is furthered by the heart's apprehension and the soul's sight of God as on the throne of grace - a sight or prospect, not by carnal imagination, but by spiritual illumination, for it is by faith that we "see Him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27); faith being the "evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1), making its proper object evident and present unto them that believe. Such a sight of God upon such a "throne" cannot but thrill the soul. Therefore are we exhorted, "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).
Thirdly, and drawn from the last quoted scripture, freedom and delight in prayer are stimulated by the consciousness that God is, through Jesus Christ, willing and ready to dispense grace and mercy to suppliant sinners. There is no reluctance in Him which we have to overcome. He is more ready to give than we are to receive. So He is represented in Isaiah 30:18, "And therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you". Yes, He waits to be sought unto; waits for faith to lay hold of His readiness to bless. His ear is ever open to the cries of the righteous. Then "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" (Hebrews 10:22); "in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God", and we shall find that peace which passes all understanding guarding our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6, 7).
~A. W. Pink~
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