Understanding Your Standing

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. (John 11:41-43)

Right before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He prayed a prayer that reveals something powerful. He said, "Father, I thank You that You always hear me. And I know You always hear me. I only said this prayer so that the people will hear and understand." That shows us something about Jesus. He understood His standing with the Father. He was not hoping God would listen. He knew God heard Him. There was no doubt. No begging. No wondering. Jesus operated from a place of total confidence in His relationship with God.

He knew who He was and where He stood with the Father. Well, who are you? 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "He who knew no sin, [that was Jesus] was made to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." By the blood of Jesus, you have been declared righteous. You are in right standing with God right now, not because of what you did, but because of what Jesus did. So when you pray, you don't have to beg or wonder if God is listening. He hears you just as He heard Jesus.

You have access and the same standing Jesus had. The problem is that most believers don't realize it. They pray to God as if He might not hear them, instead of thanking Him that He does. Jesus never doubted His standing. He moved in authority because He knew He had the Father's attention. That’s how you should pray. That’s how you should live. You are the righteousness of God in Christ. That’s not something you earn; it’s something you receive through faith. When the enemy tries to remind you of your past, remind him of your present: you are righteous and in right standing with God and because of that, your prayers are powerful.

Practical Application

Before you pray today, declare aloud, "I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. God hears me because of the blood of Jesus." Let that truth take root in your spirit before you voice your requests.

John 17:1; 1 John 5:14