Pray With Thanksgiving

Main message: Jesus is our mediator who grants us continual access to God's presence—like a security clearance—and because of Him we can bring even our small concerns to God. We should respond with thanksgiving for that privileged access.

Key points:

• The speaker uses a military security-clearance analogy: some information is restricted unless someone with higher clearance grants access each time.
• Jesus is likened to that higher clearance who opens the way into the holiest place.
• We would have no access to God without Jesus going before us and tearing the veil.
• Because of Jesus, God hears even our small, "infantile" concerns and stops to listen.
• This undeserved access should produce thanksgiving when we pray.

Scriptures mentioned: none