My mom sang this little song when I was a child; it made me giggle. And it still does.

"How dry I am, how wet I'll be if I don't find the bathroom key. "😂

I have no idea where she learned it, but it came rushing back yesterday as I jiggled the handle of the women's restroom.

It wouldn't open.

I had the code. It was written on the conference room table, and I scribbled it on my hand before I left the meeting.

1523 ENTER

But it wouldn't open. UGH.

Prayer can be like that...we come to God, and the door doesn't open.

We know prayer is the key, and we pray. We punch in the code and wiggle the handle of heaven's door, and it won't open.

What am I doing wrong? I need this prayer answered.

I bang on the door, hoping it will open from the inside, "Is anyone in there?"

It doesn't.

Then, as I stood outside the door, desperate and nearing the disaster of a grown woman wetting her pants, someone came along and whispered, "turn the handle UP."

"WHAT!"

I try again...1523 ENTER. I grasp the handle and lift it towards the ceiling, and the door opens. I race through right before I'm a mess on the floor.

I didn't know to turn the handle upward.

What if it was that simple.

What if all it took was a little change to what you are doing now to give you access.

What if all it took was a little change to open the doors of heaven with your prayers.

It is.

What if the key you have works if you use it the right way. What if it was just a matter of lifting it - UP.

What if the key to our prayers working was taking the word of God and lifting it up. What if it was just as simple as saying it out loud.

With bold confidence.

I mentioned last month that God has been speaking to me about Kingdom Confidence, so I'm reading scripture with a new lens, knowing God is revealing his thoughts on this new concept. One verse stood out to me, Ephesians 3:12 says,

• In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (NIV)
• in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him [that is, our faith gives us sufficient courage to freely and openly approach God through Christ. (Amplified)
•  in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. (NKJV)
• we have boldness through him, and free access as kings before the Father because of our complete confidence in Christ's faithfulness. (The Passion)

God began to highlight to me how we have BOLD and CONFIDENT ACCESS to him.

There is something powerful about knowing we can approach the throne of God Almighty with BOLDNESS and CONFIDENCE!

Let me pray for you.

God, your word says, we are your children (1 John 3: 1), and our access to you was purchased by the blood of Jesus. I thank you for His sacrifice, for the full restoration of our relationship (Lam 5:21). I thank you that we can approach your throne with boldness and confidence (Eph 3:12). I want this bold confidence in my life. I want to see you as the limitless God you are (Ps 147). I want to come before you with my needs knowing you are my provider (Gen 22:14), with my burdens knowing your yoke is easy and light (Matt 11:30), with my cares knowing you sustain me (Ps 55:22), and with my desires knowing you put them in my heart (Ps 37:4). Could you show me how to walk in boldness? Show me how to walk in kingdom confidence. AMEN!

An Invitation

In early January, God began putting on my heart to teach on Bold and Confident Prayer, and I'm excited to share my new 5-Day challenge.

In 5 days, you will not just know about declarations and why they work, you will not just know which scriptures to use, but you will have the key that opens the door of heaven and the confidence to use it effectively in your own life and the lives of others.

If you're ready to take your key, lift it up and access the door of heaven with bold confidence, you can learn more about the 5-Day Bold & Confident Prayer Challenge here.

Blessings to you, and may you access the throne of heaven with bold confidence.

~ Cherlyn