Edmonds Namburi, who has just concluded his time as a Mission Council member, reflects on “Finding Strength in the Power of Prayer”, which is one of the themes surrounding Prayer and Self Denial 2019.
Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at his disposition, and listening to his voice in the depth of our hearts. – Mother Teresa
Someone said, “If you want to learn about windows, you will do well by looking at them. However, when you look at a window, you not only see that window, you see through that window.”
I believe the same can be said of prayer—it’s what you see through prayer that really matters.
Exodus chapter 32-33 tells a story about Moses. He was on Mount Sinai for such a long time that those waiting became restless and fell into the sin of idolatry. Meanwhile, as we learn from Exodus 32:11-14, Moses is standing in the presence of the holy God as a transformed man who even dares to challenge God.
You will never experience the urgency of intercession unless you notice sin from God’s perspective.
God delights in such an appetite for being in his presence. Hebrews 4:16 says, “let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace...” (NASB). God bestows a strange supremacy when you take a stance in fervent prayers. We see this in Moses’ story, as his prayer is transformed into an astronomical setting and Moses stands face-to-face with God.
We must learn from Moses, who discovered such strength only in the authority of prayer. Strange words came out of his mouth, caught in the gales of the Spirit, his hunger to see God’s glory increased and he yearned for the strength prayer brings. He loved his people, but love for his God was greater. So much so, that when he came down from Mount Sinai, his face was radiant because the power of prayer had lifted him to a new level.
This is the strength that comes from the power of prayer. It is intoxicating to stand in the presence of the holy God. It is up to us how we much we yearn the power of prayer so our strength can be renewed and his glory reflected through us.
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
