One area that I’m always looking to strengthen is my prayer life. One way to do that is to pray the words of God, for those are the only prayers that are truly inspired (see 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Today I read a prayer by Moses, the man of God. In Deuteronomy 32:2-3 he said,
May my teaching drop as the rain,
my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the young plants.For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God!
As we anticipate the coming of spring (which begins officially on March 20), this word picture in Moses’ prayer is a timely reminder for all of God’s people. For the one who preaches God’s word, Moses’ prayer conveys the manner in which we ought to deliver it, and our desire in doing so. We want God’s word to have a refreshing influence on his people, to promote their spiritual well-being and growth.
We can pray this confidently as we “proclaim the name of the Lord,” making God the center of our sermon rather than ourselves, and as we rely on God’s promise in Isaiah 55:10-11:
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
The very word picture that Moses employs in his prayer is the very one by which the Lord expresses in his promise. As we “proclaim the name of the Lord” for his glory and for the good of his people, we can be sure that our message will accomplish exactly what God wants. How encouraging!
But Moses’ prayer is relevant not only to the preacher, but also to the people who hear it. We should receive God’s word the way that new grass and young plants receive water — eagerly! They drink it in so they can grow and flourish. That’s why, after delivering God’s word, Moses concluded his message by saying, “These instructions are not empty words — they are your life!” (Deut. 32:47).
Without proper nourishment, grass dies and plants perish. The same is true of us spiritually. That’s why Peter says (employing a different but similar word picture),
Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
(1 Peter 2:2-3 NLT).
Like new grass, young plants, and newborn babies, let us drink in the life-giving word of God!