Altered in Prayer

Daily Reading:  Luke 9

Scripture Focus:  And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered. (Luke 9.29)

Devotional Thought: Ponder this: "Does my face change when I am praying?"  That's what happened to Jesus as he was praying!

I know that to compare our spiritual experiences with Jesus' experience is a risky endeavor.  In this instance, however, I think that we can make a legitimate comparison.  After all, Moses and Elijah, the two men who appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, had special qualities about their faces and clothing.  Moses, when he came down from the mountain, would come out of his prayer time with his face glowing with the glory of God (Exodus 34).  When Elijah met God outside the cave (1 Kings 19), the Bible says that he wrapped his cloak about his face.  From that time on, there was a special significance to his cloak: with it he struck the waters of the Jordan River, causing them to part; it was that cloak which Elisha so desperately sought when Elijah was taken up into heaven.

Little wonder then that Moses was there when Jesus’ face was changed and that Elijah was there when Jesus’ clothes flashed like lightning.  These two men, mortal and weak just as we are, had similar experiences to Jesus when it comes to countenance and clothing.  Is it too impudent to ask if something like what happened to Jesus on the mountain could happen to me?  I want my face to look different because I’ve been with Jesus!  I hope that the glory of God can be detected on my face and in my expressions!

On one occasion, the early disciples were arrested for testifying about Jesus.  It was said of their persecutors: “They recognized that they had been with Jesus.”  Do people recognize when we have been with Jesus?

Prayer: Lord, I do not want to bring attention to myself, but how I long for people to see you in me.  Grant that my times of prayer would alter my very being so that others may know I have been with you.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 136.17-26

17 to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;

18 and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;

19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever;

20 and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever;

21 and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever;

22 a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever.

23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever;

24 and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;

25 he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.