Go Boldly to God’s Refrigerator
Go Boldly to God’s Refrigerator
By Steve Backlund
If someone comes to our house to repair something, we don’t expect them to open the refrigerator, make a sandwich, and settle onto the couch to watch television. They probably wouldn’t consider doing that. They came to perform a service, and their expectations reflect that relationship.
Our sons and daughters approach our home differently. When they are hungry, they open the refrigerator and help themselves to something to eat. They don’t wonder whether they have earned it or whether we want them to have it. They know they belong, and they confidently enjoy what we have provided.
Imagine discovering that one of our children had been hungry all afternoon. When we ask why they haven’t eaten, they say, “I wasn’t sure I had permission. I haven’t helped much today, and I didn’t want to ask for something I hadn’t earned.”
Our response would be immediate: “You’re my child! You don’t have to earn your place at the table. There is food here for you.”
A loving father wants his children to enjoy what he has provided. How much more does our heavenly Father welcome us to receive from Him?
We Serve From Our Place in the Family
“You received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’” - Romans 8:15
Salvation brings us into a family. Through Christ, we are God’s sons and daughters. We have responsibilities in His house, but our place in the family is established through relationship.
Belonging changes how we approach serving God. Jesus Himself served from the security of being the Father’s beloved Son, and we are growing in that same confidence. We never graduate from serving, but we can graduate from striving to earn our place in the family.
A worker approaches our house with an assignment. Our children approach knowing it is their home. They gladly contribute to family life, but when they are hungry, they don’t check how many chores they have completed before opening the refrigerator.
God is establishing this security in us. We are becoming joyful servants who are deeply convinced we are beloved children. Our service flows from acceptance, and our obedience grows from trust.
Our Need Is an Invitation to Approach
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).
Our need is the reason to approach, yet we often treat it as the reason to stay away.
When we feel strong, consistent, and useful, we come confidently. When we have struggled, failed, or become discouraged, we tend to hesitate. We stand outside the kitchen wondering whether we still have permission to receive.
Hebrews 4 points us to Jesus, our High Priest, who understands our weaknesses. Because of Him, we are invited to come boldly for mercy and help. We approach with our weakness, bringing the very thing we were tempted to hide.
God is breaking the belief that we must become less needy before we can draw near. We are discovering that our time of need can become a time of deeper confidence in His welcome. There is mercy for what happened yesterday and grace for what we face today.
We Are Learning to Think Like People Who Belong
An orphan mindset expects us to face life without the security of a loving Father. Even as believers, we can carry assumptions that leave us feeling alone, unwanted, or continually on probation.
Through the Spirit of adoption, God is replacing those false assumptions with the truth of our belonging. We are growing confident that we are loved, welcomed, and secure in His family.
An Orphan Mindset Says | A Son or Daughter Mindset Says |
I must earn my place. | Through Christ, I belong in the family. |
Asking for help makes me a burden. | My Father welcomes me to receive His help. |
Failure means I should hide. | Mercy is available, so I can come honestly. |
Correction means I am being rejected. | I am loved while I learn and grow. |
Someone else’s blessing leaves less for me. | My Father’s goodness is not running out. |
I serve so God will approve of me. | I serve from the security of His love. |
These are becoming more than statements we agree with. They are shaping how we pray, respond to mistakes, receive correction, and step into opportunities.
There Is Something Available for Today
Going boldly to God’s refrigerator means confidently receiving what our Father has made available. Our children don’t stand at the refrigerator wondering whether we want them to eat. They know provision has been made, and they approach with the confidence that it is there for them.
Jesus said, “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). We are growing confident in His willingness to give and becoming more intentional about receiving.
There are specific requests we bring to our Father and answers we trust Him to provide in His wisdom.
There are gifts He has already assured us are available.
We come for mercy knowing His heart is merciful.
We receive grace knowing Jesus has opened the way.
We ask for wisdom expecting Him to give generously.
Where have we been hesitant to receive what our Father has already made available? Perhaps we have been asking God to make us welcome when He has already welcomed us through Christ. We may be trying to earn access to the very help He has invited us to receive.
Here is a question to bring into prayer: “Father, what have You already made available that I am learning to believe and receive?”
Our prayers are to be expressions of agreement with His goodness: “Father, thank You that I belong. I receive Your mercy for yesterday and Your grace for today. Thank You for the help You have promised. I ask for wisdom for this decision, confident that You welcome my request.”
This is an hour where God is strengthening our confidence in what Jesus has accomplished. We are asking boldly, believing His promises, and receiving with thanksgiving. We are discovering the joy of living as sons and daughters who know there is provision in our Father’s house.
We do not have to stand hungry in our Father’s house, wondering whether we are welcome to receive. Jesus has opened the way. There is mercy for our weakness, grace for our assignments, and power for today.
We are going boldly. We belong.
Declarations:
I belong in my Father’s house, and I confidently receive what He has provided.
I come boldly to God because Jesus has opened the way for me.
I think, pray, and live as a beloved child of God.
My Father delights in providing for me, and I am growing confident in His goodness.
Even when I struggle, I am welcome in my Father’s presence.
