Week 2, Radiant Prayer, Day 5: Rest
(Read Exodus 33:2-17)
We oftentimes think of prayer as a ritualistic religious duty to
somehow curry favor with God. “Okay, if I spend five minutes with God, He’ll be
happy with me and give me what I want.”
But have you ever thought that with that kind
of an attitude, God could the same way? That sounds harsh and even crass, but in
Exodus 33, God essentially says that. “Okay, you stiff-necked people, I will
send My angel before you and I will drive out the enemies, but I will not go
with you because if I go with you, God knows what I’ll do!”
Well, okay, that wasn’t exactly what He said, but pretty close. Read Exodus 33:2–17 for yourself.
2 “I will send My angel before you, and I will drive out your
(enemies) 3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will
not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a
stiff-necked people. … I could come up into your midst in one moment and
consume you. Now therefore, take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do
to you.” … 14 And (God) said,
“My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then
(Moses) said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up
from here. 16 For how then will it be known that Your people and I
have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate,
Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”
17 So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have
spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”
Did you catch that phrase in verse 14? “And
He said, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” If you
are spending time with God and not finding rest, it may be that you are looking
at prayer wrong.
The Presence of God literally means the face
of God, His countenance is there with you. It is the same word where Moses
spoke with God face to face. Psalm 16:11 says that “in Your Presence is the
fullness of joy.” Psalm 21:6 proclaims that, “For You have made him most
blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your Presence.” We
are to come before His Presence with thanksgiving (Psalm 95:2), with singing
(Psalm 100:2), but also with reverence (Job 23:15, Haggai 1:12).
God's glorious radiance will shine out in prayer when we have a right heart attitude to be in His Presence, revealed in us by His rest.
Pray this prayer to God: “Change my heart, O God, make it ever true. Change
my heart, O God, make it be like You. Use my time alone with You to truly pray,
seeking Your favor. Change my attitude that I see this time as a relationship,
and not a ritual. Amen.”
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