time? What Paul was saying was that God wants this to be true in
our relationship with him. If we’ll come to him honestly, with un-
veiled faces, we’ll begin to reflect who he is—to be transformed into
his likeness as his glory begins to rub off on us.
Why, then, doesn’t this transaction take place any more readily
than it does? I believe it’s because so many of us have become experts
at veiling what is really going on. We hide our feelings and thoughts;
we disguise our pain and our anger until what we are really bring-
ing God when we come into his presence is little more than a spiri-
tual masquerade. How can we reflect him when we stand before him
spiritually covered?
Coming before God honestly in prayer is the first step in allowing
him to change us. The confession of any wrong attitudes (anger or
jealousy, covetousness or pride) is next. By asking him to shine the
light of his holiness into the veiled places in our hearts, revealing to
us what needs to be changed, we can begin again to reflect his glory.
And finally, standing transparently in the light of who he is, we are
able to allow the clear face of who we are to be transformed by his
ever-increasing glory.
Father, forgive me when I try to hide, for I know that there is no hid-
ing from your mercy. Forgive me when I try to turn away from the
glory that has the amazing power to transform me. Give me the
courage to come before you unmasked. I want to be all that you have
designed me to be. Work in my life. Amen.101 MOST POWERFUL PRAYERS IN THE BI BLE 121