Moses talked with God like a friend, sharing what he felt and thought. And God wanted it that way. Here is how the conversation went: ‘Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’…You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favour with me.’”’ Moses is mirroring back to God what God had previously said to him. Remember saying to your spouse or your best friend, ‘You were the one who said…’? That’s what Moses is doing here: reminding God of His own words. And God wants you to remember His Word and to speak it back to Him (see Isaiah 43:26). Not because He needs to be reminded but because you do! And because His Word is the only Word that He is committed to fulfil (see Matthew 24:35).

When you pray using God’s Word, you are praying in His will, and you’re guaranteed to get a hearing. So, learn and memorise Scriptures that touch on your needs and desires, and when you talk to God, recall them, and pray them back to Him. For example, when you pray, ‘Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours’ (Mark 11:24 NIV), God will acknowledge it! The more you learn of His Word, the more your prayer time will conform to His will and the more you will feel aligned with Him. Keep your Bible handy when you talk to God so that He can direct your thoughts to the words He wants you to pray.