Mini Devo on Prayer (EX 8:12)

Hope Joy X. Owens
Aug 27
2 min read

A little devo based on Monday from my reading plan.

Exodus 8:12

Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the Lord concerning the frogs which He had inflicted upon Pharaoh.

Moses talked directly to God all the time, yet we see in this verse that he still cries out to God. This stuck out to me, so I had to look up the interpretation of “cried” from this verse. It means just what you might have been thinking: Moses prayed passionately and with much effort to communicate with God.

Oops

I accidentally called a superior “bro” at work yesterday. It’s a word I just use a lot, and thank goodness he thought it was funny. Out of the many God-fearing characters in the Bible, I would think Moses would be on a friendly “bro”-level basis with God. Moses is in constant communication and even sees God’s face. God had chosen this guy to be His personal messenger.

Application

Although Moses was the only person to speak with God out of an entire nation, he knew his place. Moses was humble, as God had designated him a position of honor. If this Biblical legend still felt the need to put heart and soul behind a prayer, imagine the implications that has for us.

If we truly believe a matter is important, not only do we know it in our minds, but we know it in our hearts. When we bring matters to God, our prayers should be filled with both fact and emotion. Reason and vulnerability. Logic and desire. Mind, soul, heart, will, spirit… everything!
The life of Moses defines our position clearly. God is the Creator, and we are the creation. No matter where we are in life, we are to bring our requests in submission to God. To know who God is to be on your knees.
Certain prayers should appear as crying out to God. As Moses demonstrated, we need to be passionate in our prayers as we feel led. It just makes sense. The way you ask someone how they are doing versus the way you ask someone a huge favor looks different. Every prayer should not look the same.
Allow your times with God to manifest in different ways. Prayer can take many different forms. If you feel the need to physically kneel or prostrate yourself in order to express yourself to God, then that is definitely appropriate.

Your Turn

More importantly, what is the focus of your spirit when you are brought to your knees?

Acknowledge your position as the creation and submit to the Creator.
Realize just how dependent you are on God’s strength.
Worship your Father who loves you in any situation.
Beg God to save a friend who is spiritually blind and lost to the darkness of this world.
Become broken over your sin and the pains of this earth.
And many more Christ-centered ways… you fill in the blank and go pray!