PRAYERS THAT PLEASE GOD
God is a God of love; therefore, through the Bible, He has shown humanity—and Christians in particular—how to please Him and receive His blessings. As we study the Scriptures diligently, we discover many keys recorded therein that help us receive God’s blessings. One such key is knowing how to pray in a way that pleases God. When Christians pray correctly, the blessings God bestows extend not only to this present life but also to eternal life. However, simply knowing these keys is not enough; we must apply them with diligence, consistency, and faithfulness throughout our lives (Luke 18:1; Romans 12:12).
One example of a prayer that pleases God is found in Psalm 90:12: A plea for God to teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. This prayer is well worth our careful reflection and should be incorporated into our daily lives.
The first reason this prayer pleases God—and thus appears in the Bible—is that Moses himself offered it to the Lord. Moses was a man chosen by God (Psalm 106:23), whom the Bible designates with the noble title “man of God” (Deuteronomy 33:1; 1 Chronicles 23:14; 2 Chronicles 30:16; Ezra 3:2) and describes as the most faithful among all the people of Israel (Numbers 12:7; Hebrews 3:5). When the Bible refers to “all My house,” it encompasses both the people of Israel and Christians of every age. Because Moses was such a man, his prayers serve as an exemplary model for Christians.
Furthermore, the Bible reveals that Moses was the only person among the Israelites with whom God spoke face-to-face (Exodus 34:29, 34–35; Deuteronomy 34:10). This was rare—a unique grace not granted to everyone. Although Enoch was close to the Lord, the Bible only states that he “walked with God” (Genesis 5:22, 24)—meaning he faithfully followed the path ordained by the Lord—but it never records that he stood face-to-face with God while living in this world. Although Abraham is regarded as the father of faith, he could only converse with God through the appearance of an angel (Genesis 18:2) or by hearing God’s voice; he never stood face-to-face with God. The prophet Elijah, who was granted the grace of not having to experience death, heard only the gentle whisper of God (1 Kings 19:12). As for Peter, John, and James, they witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus, yet they, too, never stood face-to-face with God while living on this earth (Matthew 17:2).
Because Moses found favor in God’s sight, his prayers are certainly worthy of our reflection as Christians. Furthermore, because the Holy Spirit inspired these words and recorded them in Scripture, they should model the petitions we offer God each day (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
A second reason why this prayer is worth emulating is that its requests align with God’s will. The Bible affirms that whoever does the will of God shall receive eternal life (1 John 2:17). Therefore, if we examine this passage carefully and thoroughly, that element becomes abundantly clear.
A third reason to reflect on and follow this verse lies in the graces Moses received. Let us consider just one notable outcome in his life: because Moses lived in a way that pleased God and knew how to ask Him for the right things, God granted him a long life and enduring strength throughout his years (Deuteronomy 34:7). We, as Christians, may also hope for the same when we learn to ask for things that are pleasing to God. Amen.
(to be continued)