A Prayer for Epiphany
Epiphany, unlike a divine revelation, is an “Aha!” moment in your consciousness. But, like divine revelation, both are given by God. When we are facing times of confusion or lack understanding, we can ask God to give us an “Aha!” in our thinking.
In my own experience, many moments of epiphany have come to me when reading the Bible. Often I have come to a passage of Scripture that I did not really understand fully, and after times of prayer and reflection they become so very clear, invoking an, “I get it, Lord! I get it now!”
Have you ever felt that way? Are you at one of those places in your life now where you are just uncertain about things? Do you find yourself in need of an “Aha!” moment?
I love Matthew 16 which illustrates Simon Peter’s moment of epiphany with regard to who Jesus really was. Jesus had been frustrated after talking with the Pharisees and Sadducees who had demanded that Jesus show some miraculous sign as proof of His identity. Jesus then asked the disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” The disciples responded in Matthew 16:14 with, “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
Then, Jesus asked the disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” Notice that Jesus asked all of the disciples in his presence, yet only one of them responded. It was Simon Peter. Matthew 16:16 says, “Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’”
Jesus’ response is beautiful. Matthew 16:17-19 says, “Jesus replied, ‘You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.’”
Simon Peter got it!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please help me to “get it!” Whatever it takes, Lord, I pray that Your loving, gentle, kind, merciful, and skillful hand would guide me to an epiphany in this situation.
Help me to realize more of You, Lord. Make me more like You.
Give me an understanding of You, Father, and erase all confusion. Show me how to prepare for an epiphany in my life, Father.
I claim Your promise in Isaiah 40:5, that Your glory will be revealed and that all the people will see it together.
I thank You, Father, that flesh and blood do not reveal things to us, but that You make things known by Your Holy Spirit (Matthew 16:17).
Forgive us where we fall short, Father, and draw us ever closer to You.
We ask all these things in Your precious, holy name.
AMEN.
In my own experience, many moments of epiphany have come to me when reading the Bible. Often I have come to a passage of Scripture that I did not really understand fully, and after times of prayer and reflection they become so very clear, invoking an, “I get it, Lord! I get it now!”
Have you ever felt that way? Are you at one of those places in your life now where you are just uncertain about things? Do you find yourself in need of an “Aha!” moment?
I love Matthew 16 which illustrates Simon Peter’s moment of epiphany with regard to who Jesus really was. Jesus had been frustrated after talking with the Pharisees and Sadducees who had demanded that Jesus show some miraculous sign as proof of His identity. Jesus then asked the disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” The disciples responded in Matthew 16:14 with, “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
Then, Jesus asked the disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” Notice that Jesus asked all of the disciples in his presence, yet only one of them responded. It was Simon Peter. Matthew 16:16 says, “Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’”
Jesus’ response is beautiful. Matthew 16:17-19 says, “Jesus replied, ‘You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.’”
Simon Peter got it!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please help me to “get it!” Whatever it takes, Lord, I pray that Your loving, gentle, kind, merciful, and skillful hand would guide me to an epiphany in this situation.
Help me to realize more of You, Lord. Make me more like You.
Give me an understanding of You, Father, and erase all confusion. Show me how to prepare for an epiphany in my life, Father.
I claim Your promise in Isaiah 40:5, that Your glory will be revealed and that all the people will see it together.
I thank You, Father, that flesh and blood do not reveal things to us, but that You make things known by Your Holy Spirit (Matthew 16:17).
Forgive us where we fall short, Father, and draw us ever closer to You.
We ask all these things in Your precious, holy name.
AMEN.
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