Should Christians pray with humility or with boldness?

Seems like both are biblical. 2 Chronicles 7:14 James 1:6
I don't think there's a conflict between humbling oneself and praying boldly because we know God is able.

Humility = knowing our own weakness and not promoting ourselves.

Boldly can be from knowing who HE is and relying on that instead of our own strength.

Boldness in Christ comes with true faith. Once you know God will take care of your needs it can be done with humility and boldness. Humility in seeing that you are nothing, but bold in that you know even though you are nothing, Christ wants you to rely on him for every need boldly. It's actually a very workable combo.

Both. We can be humble in regard to our ways and abilities and bold in regard to God's.

Lucian Hodoboc said:

Some Eastern Orthodox say that we should pray with humility while at the same time having faith that we will receive what we ask for because God is infinitely merciful. Some Protestants say that we should pray with boldness and assert our outhority in Christ as adoptive children of God. I can't reconcile the two perspectives.

Please vote in the poll and share your thoughts below.

Click to expand...

It looks like the problem is with the word "authority" there.

But it doesn't mean to demand as though the petitioner is pulling rank, etc. It refers to the fact that we ought not shrink from approaching our Father, since Christ told us to do so and is our advocate.

The two views seem to be about the same when you look closely, all the while recognizing that the different communions each have their own jargon.

Can you give an example of a prayer of humility and a prayer of boldness? Lets say you desire a Car to get to church. How would a bold prayer sound, verses one done in humility?

Lucian Hodoboc said:

Some Eastern Orthodox say that we should pray with humility while at the same time having faith that we will receive what we ask for because God is infinitely merciful. Some Protestants say that we should pray with boldness and assert our authority in Christ as adoptive children of God. I can't reconcile the two perspectives.

Please vote in the poll and share your thoughts below.

Click to expand...

Both ...

James 4:6b God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Also 1 Peter 5:5b

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Lucian Hodoboc said:

Some Eastern Orthodox say that we should pray with humility while at the same time having faith that we will receive what we ask for because God is infinitely merciful. Some Protestants say that we should pray with boldness and assert our outhority in Christ as adoptive children of God. I can't reconcile the two perspectives.

Please vote in the poll and share your thoughts below.

Click to expand...

We are adopted children through and in Jesus Christ. We boldly go to the Throne of Grace with our petitions humbly knowing we submit to the will and purpose of God.

Both

The Justified Sinner

Lucian Hodoboc said:

Humbling yourself means aknowledging our multitude of flaws and daily sins and, at the same time, knowing that we don't deserve what we ask for. It's telling God: "God, I'm a worm, not a man." (like some Orthodox fathers say, citing Psalm 22)

Praying boldly means aknowledging our multitude of flaws and daily sins, but, at the same time, being convinced that they have been covered by Jesus' sacrifice and, therefore, we deserve what we ask for because we ask it as children of God. It's telling God: "I'm Your son / daughter, bought with Jesus' blood."

Maybe it's just me, but I see a big difference between the two approaches.

Click to expand...

I see them both in the Lord's prayer, and in most every prayer I pray. First comes the humble acknowledgement that I am in need of help, the recognition of who God is and who I am in comparison. Leading into a thankfulness that I am now more then I could ever be on my own, only because of Grace, and then the bold approach, because I am his son, not an orphan, or even only a servant.

Lucian Hodoboc said:

Some Eastern Orthodox say that we should pray with humility while at the same time having faith that we will receive what we ask for because God is infinitely merciful. Some Protestants say that we should pray with boldness and assert our outhority in Christ as adoptive children of God. I can't reconcile the two perspectives.

Please vote in the poll and share your thoughts below.

Click to expand...

Do we pray with humility or authority? It is not the answer that matters, but your understanding. For that, may I suggest you study various events in the Bible where God answered prayers of different people in various situations, people like Abraham, David and the biblical characters. Consider how they prayed, how they felt, their actions and how God responded. Evaluate a few events, not just a couple. It certainly take some time, but do not rush for an answer. After evaluating sufficient cases, you will begin to derive an understanding based on the bible, your interpretation and your experience . You will have confidence in your understanding because you derive it from the Scriptures and you understand your answer implicitly.

Above is what I shared in my book Understanding Prayer, Faith and God's Will. We are going to hear different opinions about faith and prayer, from sermons and from friends. Without a knowledge base that is derived from Scriptures, you will often wonder what to believe. But with understanding based on Scriptures, you can apply your answer to other peoples ' experience as well.

To pray with humility or authority? There are cases in the Bible where people pray with humility (eg Moses) or boldness. (eg Paul), but to digest it from Scriptures first-hand is more interesting and assuring than hearsay.

Lucian Hodoboc said:

Humbling yourself means aknowledging our multitude of flaws and daily sins and, at the same time, knowing that we don't deserve what we ask for. It's telling God: "God, I'm a worm, not a man." (like some Orthodox fathers say, citing Psalm 22)

Praying boldly means aknowledging our multitude of flaws and daily sins, but, at the same time, being convinced that they have been covered by Jesus' sacrifice and, therefore, we deserve what we ask for because we ask it as children of God. It's telling God: "I'm Your son / daughter, bought with Jesus' blood."

Maybe it's just me, but I see a big difference between the two approaches.

Click to expand...

There seems to be a difference in approach maybe, on some level, tied in to how the EO vs. some Protestants see our standing with God, salvation, and the purpose of the Christian life.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the EO seem to see our lives in Christ as a journey of repentance, asceticism, prayer, and growing more like Christ.

It's a battle against sin and the flesh and the danger of Hell fire not yet completely won.

Many Protestants see our lives in Christ as enjoying and living assured in what we've already been given through faith, irrespective of anything we do or fail to do. We've already won, the battle's ours, and all we have to do in continue to have faith and proclaim the Blood of Christ over our past, present, and future sins.

So, there's a difference in perspective here. A big one. Protestants, especially Evangelical and Pentecostal Protestants, are making inroads into Eastern Orthodox countries, establishing churches, seeking to call the Eastern Orthodox into Evangelical Christianity, and sharing a very different message on salvation, what the Christian life is, and what we should do and believe as Christians.

So there are two very different systems of thought here. And I wonder if maybe being exposed to two different theologies is causing this confusion for you.

Lucian Hodoboc said:

I've been researching a lot lately into the different theologies of the Christian denominations, and the difference in the systems of thought, coupled with my obsessive-compulsive disorder, has been making my faith very unstable.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm getting the impression that different, incompatible theologies are kind of bumping into each other in your head.

I would find a good, faithful, patient, kind Eastern Orthodox priest and talk to him about your struggles. I would.

And stop by TAW. There's a lot of good, kind, knowledgeable folks on there, many of whom are former Protestants.

The Ancient Way - Eastern Orthodox

Lucian Hodoboc said:

Some Eastern Orthodox say that we should pray with humility while at the same time having faith that we will receive what we ask for because God is infinitely merciful. Some Protestants say that we should pray with boldness and assert our outhority in Christ as adoptive children of God. I can't reconcile the two perspectives.

Please vote in the poll and share your thoughts below.

Click to expand...

We should always pray "God's will be done".This is more humble.
Blessings

We should pray in spirit and in truth. We should be ourselves to God and there are many ways to be. Different seasons of being results in different manners that we might interact with God in.

Lucian Hodoboc said:

Some Eastern Orthodox say that we should pray with humility while at the same time having faith that we will receive what we ask for because God is infinitely merciful. Some Protestants say that we should pray with boldness and assert our outhority in Christ as adoptive children of God. I can't reconcile the two perspectives.

Please vote in the poll and share your thoughts below.

Click to expand...

One can humble, yet boldly ask in prayer.

Lucian Hodoboc said:

we deserve what we ask

Click to expand...

I find this flesh driven and sinful. So I stand with humble.
Blessings