Lessons from Matthew 17: Prayer
In today’s lesson we encounter the glory of God and His transforming power.
“What is the glory of God?” you may ask.
Simply put, the glory of God is the visible evidence of His greatness.
There is plenty of testimony in the Bible that tells us of those who witnessed God’s glory. People like Moses, in the burning bush, Paul on the road to Damascus, and others.
And we too experience His glory as we take the time to see people, places, and things through His heavenly lens. All we have to do is look up into the light of day and capture the sky, the sun, or the stars by night to witness the glory of God.
Psalm 19:1 tells us that the heavens declare the glory of God; and the skies proclaim what His hands have made.
You can’t help but look in the face of a brand new baby and marvel at God’s goodness. These things and more reveal the glory of God to us today!
Jesus Christ Reveals the Glory of God through His Words and Works
It had only been about a week since Jesus and the disciples’ encounter with the religious leaders, Peter’s confession of faith, and Jesus’s enlightenment to the disciples of His need to go to the cross.
And then Jesus took Peter, the one upon whom Jesus would build His church, and James, who would be the first martyr, and John, who would write Revelation and the epistles up a high mountain.
This mountain is thought to be Mt. Hermon. Mt. Hermon is about 9,400 feet and 11,000 feet above the sunken Jordan valley. It is known for its snow but also for its beauty. It is said that, once to the top, you can see for miles in every direction. And though Jesus most likely did not take these men all the way to the top, He did take them on quite a hike. He wanted to remove them from all distractions and crowds of people in order to be alone with them.
And it is in Luke that we also find that Jesus did so that He might pray.
It would do us good to stop here and ask ourselves: If Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, took time to pull away from the distractions of life and the crowds of people how much more would we as His children benefit from the same exercise?
Prayer is like exercise in many ways. It takes time and effort and sometimes it can be quite a workout! But it is vital and a necessary part of every Christian’s life.
What is prayer?
Prayer is basically conversation with God. In prayer you give your words to God. You offer up your praise for who He is, your thanksgiving for what He has done. And then it is where you lift up your confessions and requests and then rely upon Him for His will and His answer.
Then you listen.
You listen to what He has to say to you. He speaks through His Word and through His Holy Spirit. The more we know of His Word and the more time we spend in His presence, the more likely we are to hear and know what He is saying to us.
Like exercise, prayer needs to be a regular part of our daily living. It is ongoing! In fact, God instructs us in His Word to pray without ceasing. This means, no matter what situation or circumstance you find yourself in, you should always be lifting your voice up to God. In times of joy and in times of suffering!
And the way to begin is also like exercise: You just do it! You simply set aside time and you come before His throne of grace. It doesn’t matter if you get up and get a cup of coffee or tea, get down on your knees, or sit in a chair, whether you grab a pen and a piece of paper or a computer or iPad, or nothing at all. Just set aside that time.
I highly recommend journaling your love letters to God so you can go back and recall His goodness, His grace, and His mercy. It’s the way to see prayers answered. And though there is not one method perfect for all, the importance comes in doing the act.
Whether you start with 5 words or five minutes, I will tell you that in no time your conversations will grow and His answers will come!
Prayer is an essential part of a Christian’s relationship with God.
Terri Hamman
Faith & Fitness Coach