Moses:%20A%20Model%20of%20Prayer

1
Moses A Model of Prayer

• Also Excuses in Prayer

2
Recall

• Prayer is the vital and personal relationship
  with the living and true God.
• It is a conversation with God.

3
Exodus 3 Moses and the Burning Bush

• Here I am.
• Listen first.
• Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place
  where you stand is holy ground.
• A gesture of reverence and respect. Acknowledging
  Gods presence.
• In this conversation with God (prayer), Moses is
  given a mission
• Set the Israelites free from slavery to the
  Egyptians. They are suffering!
• Moses is scared so he starts making excuses.

4
Exodus 3 Moses and his excuses

• Who am I? Im a nobody! Im not worthy.
• Trust me. I am somebody and will make you
  somebody.
• Who are you? What do I say?
• Divine name
• Trust me.
• He is given step by step instructions.
• What if they dont believe me?
• I will give you the signs you need.
• Trust me!
• Im not a good public speaker.
• Dont you know who I am yet? Trust me!

5
End of the Excuses

• Moses finally says, I dont want to do it, send
  someone else.
• This angers God and is not really an excuse at
  all.
• Though angered, God still gives Aaron to Moses as
  an aid and again as a way of saying Trust me!

6
Prayer to conclude lesson

• Attend to the pleas of your people with heavenly
  care, O Lord, we pray, that they may see what
  must be done and gain strength to do what they
  have seen. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your
  Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity
  of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
  Amen.

7
Our Mission
Gods message of love is a constant challenge for
all of us to live out. When God calls us and
gives us the mission to love our neighbors, our
enemies, and the least among us what is holding
us back? What excuses do we make? In this time
of silent prayer and reflection, think about
someone that God is challenging you to love more
in your life.
8
Our own excuses
Do you question why God has chosen you to love
this person? Do you feel inadequate or not
worthy? If you think God has made some kind of
mistake do you use that as an excuse not to love
this person? Are you struggling to love this
person out of any type of fear? Is there any type
of sin that you are unwilling to give up in order
to love this person? Do you not love this person
simply because it is difficult? What other
excuses might you be offering?
9
Letter to God
In your letter to God, discuss a person whom you
are being called to love as well as the excuses
you might be making that prevent you from loving
that person. Ask God to help you abandon your
excuses, embrace the challenge of loving this
person, and to trust that God will be with you
and has not made a mistake in choosing
you. Offer God some kind of commitment towards
loving this person in the way God is
asking. Remember, God is waiting to bless you
abundantly for the effort of love that you are
being called to show towards this person. Expect
Gods blessings for loving this person!