This Little Light of Mine...I'm Gonna Let it Shine

I have found that the longer I walk in my faith, the more rote the basic tenets of our Christian faith can become.  We can so easily lose sight of the awe and wonder of the profound and life changing elements of being a Christ follower.  Yawn, yawn...time for the Lord's Supper (or Communion--whatever name you give it).  Yada, yada, yada...the blood shed for you, the body broken for you.  The enemy lulls us into becoming mindless robots who claim a faith in a history changing Saviour...but who walk through each day not much differently than unbelievers.

Today, as I was reading my Bible, I was impressed with a very fundamental aspect of our faith that most of us tend to lose sight of--the importance of prayer.  Prayer.  Oh, we learn how to recite "Our Father who art in Heaven."  We might have some familiar meal time prayer such as, "God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food."  In moments of desperation, we might throw out a quick prayer for help.  And, we so casually tell a hurting friend that we'll pray for them.  

But what role is prayer really taking in our lives?  Do we approach prayer with a sense of amazement--that the God of the Universe has made a way to listen to our hearts' cries?  Do we step forward in great faith, approaching the throne of grace with confidence, truly believing that prayer changes things--and more importantly, prayer changes US?  

Talk about letting your little light shine.  Look what prayer did for Moses!

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with

the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands,

he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.

Exodus 34:29

Or, as Christ followers, how about we take a look to see how prayer impacted the Son of God during his ministry on earth?

About 8 days after Jesus said this, he took 

Peter, John and James with him and went up

onto a mountain to pray.  As he was praying, the

appearance of his face changed, and his 

clothes became as bright as 

a flash of lightening.

Luke 9:28

Lest we think a glowing face from the result of talking with God was reserved for men who witnessed a burning bush or the Son of God, let's take a look at 2 Corinthians 3:18.

And, we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the

Lord's glory, are being transformed into

his likeness with ever-increasing glory,

which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Let's not forget that Moses' face was so bright after his prayer time that he had to wear a veil lest he blind his companions.  Paul is making a reference to this, as he talks about us having unveiled faces.   And, unlike Moses, we have the Holy Spirit within us to continually work out this sort of glowing transformation.

INTENTIONAL challenge:  What is prayer to you?  A quick reciting of some sentences you've memorized?  A required and rote exercise, that "hopefully" will draw you closer to Him?  Or an outpouring of your deepest needs and hurts, with complete belief that He hears your every word, and He acts on your behalf?   Do you wait in expectation, having full confidence that He will answer with complete sovereignty?  Prayer changes things.  Prayer changes us.  Time with God, really communing with him, causes us to reflect His glory.  It makes our little lights shine.  It makes us radiant.  I think it's high time we all take it seriously, with great reverence, never losing sight of the privilege that we can storm the throne room of heaven, with the Spirit interceding our our behalf (Romans 8:26) and Jesus who lives to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25).  Talk about some power in your corner.  Prayer...may we engage in this life changing aspect of our every day, believing that He will transform us in the process.