My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?

  - Psalm 42.2

Therefore let this principle abide with us, that on the road we so live as travellers, as pilgrims, as guests of the world, entangled by no lusts, longing with no earthly desires, but let us fill our minds with heavenly and spiritual impressions, singing with grace and power, When shall I come and appear before the face of God?

  - Columbanus, Sermon VIII, Irish, 7th century[1]

“When shall I come and appear before the face of God?” This is the cry of the one who has learned the secret joys and transforming power of prayer.

This longing to meet with the Lord in prayer shapes the heart of everyone who has ever gazed upon the glory of the Lord in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4.6). As Peter said, in the presence of Jesus’ radiant glory, “Lord, it is good for us to be here” (Lk. 9.33).

Prayer – more of it and better – is the consuming passion of all who have tasted of the fullness of joy and pleasures forever more which are to be enjoyed in the presence of the Lord (Ps. 16.11).

It’s not that this life is unimportant or insignificant; rather, this life – this road on which we are travelers – only makes sense, only yields its fullest satisfaction, and only commands our most devoted attention when it is lived before the face of the Lord in prayer.

The prayer of every sincere disciple is the prayer of Columbanus and the sons of Korah: “When? When, Lord?”

Well, why not now?

Prayer is the defining Christian practice. As such, it takes various forms: “Not to us, not to us, O God, but to Your name be glory!” “Here am I, send me!” “Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Unite my heart to fear You!” “Teach me Your path!” “Give us this day our daily bread!” “Create in me a clean heart!” “Hallowed be Thy name!” Thy Kingdom come!” “Thanks be to Thee, O God!”

Thus, prayer should define our lives as Christians, first thing in the morning, throughout the day, last thing before we sleep. Paul instructs us to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5.17), and unless we regard this as mere hyperbole or pious rhetoric, we must be about this effort by every available means.

Jesus sits enthroned at the Father’s right hand, not in some remote, inaccessible place beyond the distant heavens, but here, with us, around and over us, watching and calling to us, summoning us to enjoy His presence and know His power now, right now.

The unseen world from which Jesus rules the cosmos is not far from any of us, if only we know how to engage it. Prayer draws aside the veil that separates time and eternity and makes of every moment spent in it a “thin place” for communion with the Lord. Once you have entered through that veil – truly entered and beheld the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ – you will wonder why this is not your constant occupation. Soon your heart will also continually cry, “When?”

We travel through this life as on a journey. Like those ancient Celtic missionaries, we are peregrini pro Christo – wanderers for Christ – and we make our journey with our eyes fixed squarely on the light that glows beyond the horizon of time.

But let us also seek and enter into that light daily, at every moment, as it radiates from the face of our reigning Lord and King, with Whom we have been seated in heavenly places (Eph. 2.6).

“When shall I come and appear before the Lord?” Memorize this verse. Internalize it. Then let it exude from your spirit with every breath you exhale.

Psalm 42.6-8 (Nettleton: “Come Thou Fount”)
Oh my God, my soul is weary, therefore I remember You.
Let Your grace and goodness near be, and Your promise firm and true.
Lord, when trials and fears surround me, Your commands will be my song!
When distresses sore confound me, Your great love will keep me strong.

Lord Jesus, I know there is glory in Your face, and I long to see it, to know You and love You more completely. Teach me to pray; and draw me daily more deeply into it.

Help for your prayers
Many helps are available to encourage and strengthen us in the work of prayer. Three I have found of particular benefit are to pray with a focus, pray the psalms, and pray with others. To that end, praying for revival, using the psalms to guide you, and praying with a group of your friends can be of powerful help in strengthening your time with the Lord in prayer.

Restore Us! is our latest book on prayer. It’s a call to pray daily for revival, and to join with other believers to pray for revival, renewal, and awakening in our day, using the psalms as your guide. Here’s everything you need to begin strengthening your prayer life: A clear call from the Lord, the example of our forebears, a vision of what to seek and expect from such prayers, prayer guides based on the psalms, directions on how to organize and conduct a revival prayer group, and psalms you can sing throughout the day as you seek the glorious face of our Lord Jesus in prayer.

Restore Us! is available in our bookstore, and you can order your copy today. Join the movement of prayer for revival, and let the momentum of that effort lift you to a greater, more powerful and consistent life of seeking the Lord in prayer.

“When?” Now!

Psalms to Pray for Today, Saturday, and Sunday
Today
Morning: Psalm 119.41-48; Psalm 125
Evening: Psalm 49

Saturday
Morning: Psalm 119.49-56; Psalm 126
Evening: Psalm 50

Sunday
Morning: Psalm 119.57-64; Psalm 127
Evening: Psalm 51

T. M. Moore, Principal
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All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.