March 6 Daily Devotional

Bible Verse

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

Devotional

The throne of grace is for the needy. It is always a time of need with a child of God. "Apart from me," says Jesus, "you can do nothing" (John 15:5). There is not a moment, but, if he knows his real state, he is in need of something.

What a blessing, then, is the throne of grace! It is for the needy. It is for those who are in need—upon whom all other doors are closed, with whom all other resources have failed, who have nowhere else to look, nowhere else to fly. To such is the throne of grace always open.

Is it a time of trial with you? Then it is a time of need. Take your trial, whatever it is, simply to God. Don't brood over it. Don't cherish it. This won't make it sweeter or any easier to bear. But taking it to Jesus will. The very act of taking it will lighten it, and casting it upon his tenderness and sympathy will make it sweet.

Is it a time of spiritual darkness with you? Then it is a time of need. Take your darkness to the throne of grace, and "in his light" who sits upon it you "shall see light" (Ps. 36:9).

Is it a time of adverse providences? Then it is a time of need. And where can you go for guidance, for direction, for counsel, for light upon the ins and outs of the way, but to the God of grace?

Is it a time of temporal distress with you? Then it is a time of need. Take your temporal cares and needs to the Lord, for he who is the God of grace is also the God of providence.

Thank the Lord for every errand that takes you to the throne of grace. Whatever it is that sends you to prayer, count it one of your choice blessings. It may be a heavy cross, a painful trial, a pressing need; it may be a broken cistern, a cold look, an unkind expression; yet, if it leads you to prayer, regard it as a mercy sent from God to your soul. Thank God for an errand to him.

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
ev'rything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
ev'rything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged:
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful,
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness—
take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our Refuge—
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee,
thou wilt find a solace there.

(Joseph Scriven, ca. 1855)

Be sure to read the Preface by Octavius Winslow and A Note from the Editor by Larry E. Wilson.

Larry Wilson is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In addition to having served as the General Secretary of the Committee on Christian Education of the OPC (2000–2004) and having written a number of articles and booklets (such as God's Words for Worship and Why Does the OPC Baptize Infants) for New Horizons and elsewhere, he has pastored OPC churches in Minnesota, Indiana, and Ohio. We are grateful to him for his editing of Morning Thoughts, the OPC Daily Devotional for 2025.