Praying is most powerful when we pray from the heart.
Moses is a good example. When God was upset with the Israelites, Moses pleaded with the Lord for his people - and for God's own reputation.
I am fascinated with Moses as a man of prayer - and I've written about him before.
But I'd like to concentrate now on his passion for God and for his own people.
The exodus of the Israelites from Egypt is filled with stories of Moses as intercessor. As E.M. Bounds pointed out in his book Prayer and Praying Men, even Pharaoh recognized Moses as a great praying man - he begged him to ask God to stop the plagues on the Egyptians.
To my mind, the most impressive of Moses' prayers is in the Book of Exodus when the children of Israel rebelled against God by creating their own golden calf as an idol to worship.
In Exodus 32:10, God says he will destroy the Israelites and start over again with Moses alone - creating a new nation from Moses.
A lesser man might have said: "Okay, God. Who am I to disagree? After all, they're a very pigheaded and troublesome people."
But Moses reacted by appealing to the Lord on the grounds of God's reputation in the sight of the Egyptians. He was concerned that the Egyptians would accuse God of evil intent.
Moses did not take God lightly. Through a long, intimate relationship with the Lord, he had come to know him well. God even said that he was the one man he trusted among the Israelites.
So Moses pleaded with God because he wanted to uphold him - to glorify him - before everyone. He was committed to God - heart and soul.
But his heart also went out to his people. He reminded God of the promises he had made about making Israel a great nation. He asked God not to destroy the people.
Some died because of their rebellion, but the nation as a whole survived.
Moses went further and called on God to accompany them to the promised land. He could not bear the thought of being abandoned by God.
He said: "How will anyone know that you look favourably on me - on me and on your people - if you don't go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other peoples on earth."
That is a man who cares. He could not imagine being without God's presence.
As I read this story in the Bible, I realize how shallow is my praying. Part of that is lacking the zeal that Moses had. And that flows from taking the easy way in life.
Moses came to his love of God through spending time with him and getting to know him better every day. And God planted within him his deep love for his own people.
It strikes me that, as I seek God more, he will stir within me a greater love for others. After all, God is love and is the source of our own love.
Moses is a good example. When God was upset with the Israelites, Moses pleaded with the Lord for his people - and for God's own reputation.
I am fascinated with Moses as a man of prayer - and I've written about him before.
But I'd like to concentrate now on his passion for God and for his own people.
The exodus of the Israelites from Egypt is filled with stories of Moses as intercessor. As E.M. Bounds pointed out in his book Prayer and Praying Men, even Pharaoh recognized Moses as a great praying man - he begged him to ask God to stop the plagues on the Egyptians.
To my mind, the most impressive of Moses' prayers is in the Book of Exodus when the children of Israel rebelled against God by creating their own golden calf as an idol to worship.
In Exodus 32:10, God says he will destroy the Israelites and start over again with Moses alone - creating a new nation from Moses.
A lesser man might have said: "Okay, God. Who am I to disagree? After all, they're a very pigheaded and troublesome people."
But Moses reacted by appealing to the Lord on the grounds of God's reputation in the sight of the Egyptians. He was concerned that the Egyptians would accuse God of evil intent.
Moses did not take God lightly. Through a long, intimate relationship with the Lord, he had come to know him well. God even said that he was the one man he trusted among the Israelites.
So Moses pleaded with God because he wanted to uphold him - to glorify him - before everyone. He was committed to God - heart and soul.
But his heart also went out to his people. He reminded God of the promises he had made about making Israel a great nation. He asked God not to destroy the people.
Some died because of their rebellion, but the nation as a whole survived.
Moses went further and called on God to accompany them to the promised land. He could not bear the thought of being abandoned by God.
He said: "How will anyone know that you look favourably on me - on me and on your people - if you don't go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other peoples on earth."
That is a man who cares. He could not imagine being without God's presence.
As I read this story in the Bible, I realize how shallow is my praying. Part of that is lacking the zeal that Moses had. And that flows from taking the easy way in life.
Moses came to his love of God through spending time with him and getting to know him better every day. And God planted within him his deep love for his own people.
It strikes me that, as I seek God more, he will stir within me a greater love for others. After all, God is love and is the source of our own love.
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