One of the great privileges of being a child of God is the ability to talk with Him. It is unbelievable to think that we have access to such an incredible and powerful Being like God; yet, the Bible repeatedly tells us that we do.

Romans 5:2 (ESV)
² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Ephesians 2:18 (ESV)
¹⁸ For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Ephesians 3:12 (ESV)
¹² In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

Should we not take advantage of this privilege? Like studying the Word of God, it takes commit-ment and discipline, but the payoff is wonderful. Through prayer we can draw near to God and find help in times of need (Hebrews 4:16). Hebrews 10 describes this blessing beautifully.

Hebrews 10:19-20 (ESV)
¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,

These great verses are filled with biblical typology. The holy places is what the Jews called the “holy of holies” or the “Most Holy Place.” It was the little compartment within the veil of the taber-nacle that was the symbolic dwelling place of God. Only the high priest could enter within the veil, but even he could not do so without the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:6-7). That was a shadow of things to come. It foreshadowed Jesus shedding His own blood and then entering within the veil; not the little compartment of the tabernacle, but to the place that the Most Holy Place symbol-ized, that is, heaven itself. Now, Jesus entering within the veil suggests two things, both very beneficial for us. First, since we are ultimately going to be with Him, we, too, will one day enter within the veil. That is the Christian’s hope.

Hebrews 6:19-20 (ESV)
¹⁹ We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, ²⁰ where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Second, we now have access to God through prayer. While the Most Holy Place was a type of heaven, the veil was a type of the body of Christ. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil was mi-raculously torn in half (Matthew 27:51), symbolizing the fact that now that Jesus has paid the price for sin (Romans 6:23), the presence of God is accessible.

Yes, we will personally be in the presence of God someday, but right now, by the power of prayer, we already have access to Him. Will we take advantage of it? I hope so. Prayer can make us better. It will draw us near to God, give us the strength to overcome temptation, and bring us help in time of need. Let us be committed to making it a part of our lives every day.

As you wind down for the night, think on these things.