Week 2, Radiant Prayer, Day 5: Restoration
(Read Exodus 33:3-17; Matthew 11:28-30; John 14:25-27)
In our prayer life, we encounter heaven on earth.
Yesterday and next week, we saw and will see we come with reverence, a sense of
awestruck worship. Yet, when we enter our prayer closet, we enter the Holy of
holies, with reverence, yes, but not with trembling because of our sins. We
have confident boldness as we approach the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). Such
communion with God restores us, refreshes us, and gives us a rest.
Radiant Restoration: In Exodus 33:3, God said that He would not
go with the people without repentance. With repentance, however, God brought
rest, restoration, and grace, saying to Moses, “I will do this thing that
you have spoken, for you have found grace in My sight,” (Exodus 33:17)
We saw this morning that the Presence, the
Face of God, leads us to singing, thanksgiving, gladness, and joy. If you
haven’t included singing in your prayer times, consider using songs on the
internet and put the lyrics on the screen. In fact, in writing this section, I
have just done this, finding these lyrics below.
And since He bids me seek His face,
believe His word, and trust His grace,
I'll cast on Him my every care,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
His Presence and our restoration give us confidence
that He hears us. His face and our rest give us boldness to speak with God. Radiance
in prayer allows us to leave our burdens at the throne of grace and helps us to
refuse to pick those burdens up again.
Do not wait to call on God in prayer. In
Matthew 11, Jesus was in a contentious battle and suddenly burst into a prayer
of thankfulness that the Father revealed and restored Himself to His children. Jesus
said following that prayer, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I
am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My
yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Prayer is a sweet time of communion with God,
in the middle of contentious circumstances. Stephen’s face was like an angel,
even though he was being persecuted and was about to be killed (Acts 6:15). In
Acts 4:13, the apostles faced a contentious confrontation, but their enemies recognized
that they had been present with Jesus.
Spending time with Christ makes us as radiant
as a bride, Ephesians 5:27 says. Internal peace comes from the Holy Spirit, the
Helper, who is always present within us. In John 14:25-27, Jesus promised, “Peace
I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to
you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Pray this prayer to God: “Lord God, with thanksgiving, I rejoice in
Your presence through Your Holy Spirit, my Helper. I lay my burdens down
tonight and take up by faith Your rest and restoration. No matter the conflicts
of today, I receive Your peace.”
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