7 Portraits in Prayer, Day 9: Evening

Week 2, Radiant Prayer, Day 2: Relationship

(Read Exodus 33:11–17, Isaiah 62:1–5) 

Exodus 32–34 emphasizes the intimate relationship that Moses had with God. Moses pleaded for the people (32:11–13), he was righteously angry with sin (32:14–35), he received God’s plans (33:1–7), and he had a close communication with God (33:8–23). God’s promise that “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest,” is similar to Jesus’s promise of an easy yoke, a restful soul, and a light burden (Matthew 11:28–30).

God reassured Moses that He knew him by name (33:17), meaning He knew Moses intimately. God knows you by name too. He knows your character, your reputation. There is a song out that says, 

“Hello my name is …” 

and lists all of the bad characteristics we often have, our bad reputations, our bad qualities.

In a previous era, the Gaithers sang, 
 

“I said, ‘If you knew me / You wouldn’t want me /

My scars are hidden by the face I wear’ / 

“He said, ‘My child, my scars run deeper /

It was love for you that put them there.”

Do not hide from God. A radiant relationship with God is one where you open up to Him and show Him who you really are. He knows your scars, your shame, and He bore them on Calvary’s cross. He already knows you by name, and what’s more, He knows your new name!

My wife Melissa’s dad gave his grandkids nicknames. “Scooter” because Rachel would scoot along rather than crawl, “Hannah Banana” because it rhymed and that’s what Grandma called her, “Mar mar” because older “Bubba” couldn’t say Marshall, and “Top Cat” because of Terrynce Caleb’s initials (and Granddad’s brother first called him that). Maybe somebody in your family makes up nicknames.

When we get into a relationship with God, he doesn’t give us a nickname, he gives us a new name. Isaiah 62:2 says, “You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name” (see also Revelation 2:17 and 3:12). Abram, Sarai, Jacob, Simon all received new names.

In all, Moses had spent nearly three months in communicating with God directly on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:18 and 34:28). No wonder his face glowed when he came down. When you spend time with God as a relationship, not as a religion or a ritual, you too will radiate spiritually.

To see God’s radiance in our prayer life, we need to desire to commune intimately with God as a friend with a friend, as a Father with a child, to communicate with the One-True-King. We want to see His face, His glory, His radiance.

 

Pray this prayer to God: “Father, thank You for knowing me and loving me and wanting to have a relationship with me. Help me to come to know You by Your Name, Jesus, God is my Salvation. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.”

Click here for Day 10, Morning.