Ephesians 3:12 reminds believers that through Jesus Christ, we have direct and confident access to God’s presence. This devotional by Whitney Hopler highlights the incredible truth that prayer is not reserved for the spiritually elite or those who “have it all together.” Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, every Christian has VIP access to God anytime, anywhere.

Highlights
Ephesians 3:12 teaches that believers can approach God boldly through faith in Christ.
God’s presence is always available because of Jesus’ sacrifice.
Prayer is based on God’s grace, not personal performance or perfection.
God invites believers to come honestly with fears, doubts, frustrations, and gratitude.
Christians are not distant from God—they are His beloved children.
Seeing God as a loving Father changes the way we pray and relate to Him.
God listens attentively and desires authentic relationship with His people.

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Full Transcript Below:

You Have VIP Access to God
By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.” – Ephesians 3:12, NLT 

When I was a newspaper reporter, my press credentials usually got me access to people at events that the general public couldn’t access. I often found myself in the “VIP section” of whatever event I was covering, so I could talk to the leaders freely. I felt confident that I didn’t have to worry about how I’d contact the people I needed to talk to for each story I wrote. Many times, people wanted to talk with me so much that they pursued me and made themselves available for conversations whenever it worked best for me during the events, despite all of their other responsibilities there. So, I certainly felt like a “very important person” in the VIP sections there. 

It’s even more incredible that my Creator – God – gives me VIP access to talk with him anytime and anywhere. God does the same for you! 

God is the ultimate leader. No one has more responsibilities than God, or is busier than God is. But God is willing to pursue us and make himself available for us to talk with whenever and wherever we are. Of course, God isn’t motivated by wanting publicity. God’s motivation is simply that he loves us so much that he wants to communicate with us often. 

Ephesians 3:12 tells you that because of Christ and your faith in him, you have VIP access to God. Not limited or occasional access, but full access! You can come boldly and confidently into God’s presence right now. You don’t have to wait until you feel more faithful or until you try to clean up a mess in your life. You don’t need to impress God or beg him to let you come to him. Your invitation to access and enjoy God’s presence is Jesus himself. Because of what Jesus has done to pay for your sins and connect you with a holy God, the door is already open, and you’re always welcome to walk through it. 

Still, you might hesitate to pray because you feel unworthy, distracted, or unsure if God will really hear your prayers and answer them. Maybe you think God is disappointed in you, or that God is too busy dealing with bigger problems to be bothered with your concerns. But Ephesians 3:12 makes it clear that confidence in God’s presence is not about you – it’s about Jesus, who has already opened the door for you to fully access God. 

VIP access gives you the confidence of knowing you belong in God’s presence. When you trust what God promises you in this verse, you can come to him boldly. God invited you to enjoy VIP access because you’re truly a very important person. You’re one of God’s beloved children, connected to him by Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice as the world’s Savior. 

You don’t have to hide from God, and you don’t have to perform for God, either. You can come to God just as you are, communicate with God honestly, and enjoy God’s unconditional love for you. God is there for you in the middle of everything you go through in this fallen world. You can ask God your questions, seek God’s strength as you deal with your weaknesses, and share all your thoughts and emotions – even the most difficult ones – with God. When you come to God honestly, he is pleased because he wants to see you respond to his grace and connect with you authentically. 

VIP access to God changes how you pray. You don’t have to try to clean up your life first. You can talk to God about your fears, your frustrations, and your doubts, as well as your hopes and your gratitude. You have the freedom to pray in whatever ways work best for you. God isn’t grading your prayer; he’s welcoming you into a closer relationship every time you communicate with him. 

It also changes how you see God. Instead of seeing God as a distant authority figure, you can see that God is your loving Heavenly Father. Instead of wondering if God’s listening to your prayers at all, you can trust that he’s listening carefully.

So today, remind yourself that through Jesus, you have VIP access to God. The door is open for you to walk through. Come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. God is ready to meet you anytime and anywhere, just as you are! 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider the blessing of having VIP access to God, reflect on these questions: 
Do you currently approach God with the confidence of a VIP, or do you feel like you’re still waiting for permission to enter God’s presence? 
What’s one fear or mistake that makes you feel unworthy of God’s attention right now? How can you let that go and come to God anyway? 
How does knowing that God is never too distant or busy for you change how you plan to communicate with God from now on? 

Further Reading:
Hebrews 4:16
Romans 5:1-2
1 John 5:14
James 4:8
Psalm 145:18

Ephesians 3:12 reminds believers that through Jesus Christ, we have direct and confident access to God&rsquo;s presence. This devotional by Whitney Hopler highlights the incredible truth that prayer is not reserved for the spiritually elite or those who &ldquo;have it all together.&rdquo; Because of Jesus&rsquo; sacrifice, every Christian has VIP access to God anytime, anywhere.
Highlights
<ul data-start="722" data-end="1262">
<li data-section-id="qbfeyk" data-start="722" data-end="810">Ephesians 3:12 teaches that believers can approach God boldly through faith in Christ.</li>
<li data-section-id="mymu10" data-start="811" data-end="876">God&rsquo;s presence is always available because of Jesus&rsquo; sacrifice.</li>
<li data-section-id="85fgwa" data-start="877" data-end="950">Prayer is based on God&rsquo;s grace, not personal performance or perfection.</li>
<li data-section-id="zaeqx6" data-start="951" data-end="1040">God invites believers to come honestly with fears, doubts, frustrations, and gratitude.</li>
<li data-section-id="197tpfg" data-start="1041" data-end="1109">Christians are not distant from God&mdash;they are His beloved children.</li>
<li data-section-id="sh157z" data-start="1110" data-end="1184">Seeing God as a loving Father changes the way we pray and relate to Him.</li>
<li data-section-id="1novj5r" data-start="1185" data-end="1262">God listens attentively and desires authentic relationship with His people.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://forms.gle/gXp5pnA83t6du5An7">Take Our Survey!</a>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
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<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
You Have VIP Access to God By: Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading: &ldquo;Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God&rsquo;s presence.&rdquo; &ndash; Ephesians 3:12, NLT&nbsp;
When I was a newspaper reporter, my press credentials usually got me access to people at events that the general public couldn&rsquo;t access. I often found myself in the &ldquo;VIP section&rdquo; of whatever event I was covering, so I could talk to the leaders freely. I felt confident that I didn&rsquo;t have to worry about how I&rsquo;d contact the people I needed to talk to for each story I wrote. Many times, people wanted to talk with me so much that they pursued me and made themselves available for conversations whenever it worked best for me during the events, despite all of their other responsibilities there. So, I certainly felt like a &ldquo;very important person&rdquo; in the VIP sections there.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s even more incredible that my Creator &ndash; God &ndash; gives me VIP access to talk with him anytime and anywhere. God does the same for you!&nbsp;
God is the ultimate leader. No one has more responsibilities than God, or is busier than God is. But God is willing to pursue us and make himself available for us to talk with whenever and wherever we are. Of course, God isn&rsquo;t motivated by wanting publicity. God&rsquo;s motivation is simply that he loves us so much that he wants to communicate with us often.&nbsp;
Ephesians 3:12 tells you that because of Christ and your faith in him, you have VIP access to God. Not limited or occasional access, but full access! You can come boldly and confidently into God&rsquo;s presence right now. You don&rsquo;t have to wait until you feel more faithful or until you try to clean up a mess in your life. You don&rsquo;t need to impress God or beg him to let you come to him. Your invitation to<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/how-to-notice-god-with-you-throughout-your-day.html"> access and enjoy God&rsquo;s presence</a> is Jesus himself. Because of what Jesus has done to pay for your sins and connect you with a holy God, the door is already open, and you&rsquo;re always welcome to walk through it.&nbsp;
Still, you might hesitate to pray because you feel unworthy, distracted, or<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/does-prayer-really-work.html"> unsure if God will really hear your prayers and answer them</a>. Maybe you think God is disappointed in you, or that God is too busy dealing with bigger problems to be bothered with your concerns. But Ephesians 3:12 makes it clear that confidence in God&rsquo;s presence is not about you &ndash; it&rsquo;s about Jesus, who has already opened the door for you to fully access God.&nbsp;
VIP access gives you the confidence of knowing you belong in God&rsquo;s presence. When you trust what God promises you in this verse, you can come to him boldly. God invited you to enjoy VIP access because you&rsquo;re truly a very important person. You&rsquo;re one of God&rsquo;s beloved children, connected to him by<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/why-is-the-lamb-of-god-so-significant.html"> Jesus&rsquo; ultimate sacrifice as the world&rsquo;s Savior</a>.&nbsp;
You don&rsquo;t have to hide from God, and you don&rsquo;t have to perform for God, either. You can come to God just as you are, communicate with God honestly, and enjoy God&rsquo;s unconditional love for you. God is there for you in the middle of everything you go through in this fallen world. You can ask God your questions, seek God&rsquo;s strength as you deal with your weaknesses, and share all your thoughts and emotions &ndash; even the most difficult ones &ndash; with God. When you come to God honestly, he is pleased because he wants to see you respond to his grace and connect with you authentically.&nbsp;
VIP access to God changes how you pray. You don&rsquo;t have to try to clean up your life first. You can talk to God about your fears, your frustrations, and your doubts, as well as your hopes and your gratitude. You have<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/freedom-in-our-conversations-with-god-the-crosswalk-devotional.html"> the freedom to pray in whatever ways work best for you</a>. God isn&rsquo;t grading your prayer; he&rsquo;s welcoming you into a closer relationship every time you communicate with him.&nbsp;
It also changes how you see God. Instead of seeing God as a distant authority figure, you can see that God is your loving Heavenly Father. Instead of wondering if God&rsquo;s listening to your prayers at all, you can trust that he&rsquo;s listening carefully.
So today, remind yourself that through Jesus, you have VIP access to God. The door is open for you to walk through. Come boldly and confidently into God&rsquo;s presence. God is ready to meet you anytime and anywhere, just as you are!&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
As you consider the blessing of having VIP access to God, reflect on these questions:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Do you currently approach God with the confidence of a VIP, or do you feel like you&rsquo;re still waiting for permission to enter God&rsquo;s presence?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">What&rsquo;s one fear or mistake that makes you feel unworthy of God&rsquo;s attention right now? How can you let that go and come to God anyway?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">How does knowing that God is never too distant or busy for you change how you plan to communicate with God from now on?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Further Reading: Hebrews 4:16 Romans 5:1-2 1 John 5:14 James 4:8 Psalm 145:18

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

You Have VIP Access to God

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/5a8509bc-67c6-4757-9016-b440011dada1/transcript