FACE to FACE

 SEPTEMBER 01, 2022

Exodus 33:11

11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Psalm 17:6

6 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;
turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

17 pray continually,

Luke 11:1-4

11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”



Yesterday we talked about the importance of listening to story. For a story to have an impact on us it needs to be told and listened to. We all are aware that in any relationship, conversation is how we get to know one another. Dialogue and exchange is how we grow closer over time. Likewise, this is how we grow in our relationship with God and the way we get to know our Creator.

Over and over throughout Scripture, we see the people of God talk to Him passionately and honestly. They question, they plead, they cry out, they praise, they confess, all through an action called prayer.

Prayer is simply having a conversation with God. Let’s not complicate this wonderful act of communicating with God. It is simple conversation. Prayer involves both speaking and listening. Exodus 33:11 says, “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” I love that, don’t you? The phrase, the Lord “spoke to Moses” occurs 54 times in the Bible. Hear that again, the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Isn’t that a beautiful description of prayer? And when friends speak face to face, they look at each other, they talk to each other and they listen to each other.

Jesus modeled a praying life for His disciples. They watched Him time and again go off to a quiet place, a sacred space, to talk and to listen to His Father. In Luke 11, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. I find it really intriguing that the only thing the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to do was pray. They didn’t ask Him to teach them to preach or perform miracles, they asked Him to teach them to pray. I wonder if they knew what we need to remind ourselves of today, there is authority in prayer. A Power to save, to heal, to rescue, to overcome, to deliver, to give help and hope when it is needed most. Power and authority in the name of Jesus, let’s pray . . .

PRAYER

Lord, teach us to pray. Today, I pray for . . . add your words