Tag: Prayer

5 Strategies to Maintain Your Devotional Life on Vacation

Vacations are awesome! A chance to get away, rest, and spend quality time with loved ones. 

Dad and me standing at the top of a water fall during one of our hikes.

Last week I went on a family vacation. It was great, last-minute, but great! We did quite a bit of hiking, played games in the pool, and did a little shopping. Though this doesn’t sound like a lot, once you factor in meals, conversation, and a coffee run… or two it’s a full schedule. 

On vacation, you’re out of your usual environment so most of your routine is gone. But that doesn’t mean your devotional habits have to suffer while on vacation. 

Below are 5 tips that help me when I am trying to maintain my devotional life on vacation.

1. Pick Your Time

For Devotional habits to be maintained on vacation you have to decide when you’re going to do them. This is VERY basic but that’s how this stuff works.

On this most recent trip, my nieces decided that the apartment I was staying in was going to be where they’d hang out. I enjoyed this a lot. But it meant some very cute 6 and 8-year-old distractions would be coming over as soon as they knew I was up. I needed to plan my time accordingly. 

I try to give myself at least 20 minutes of focused time. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn’t, but if I don’t try nothing happens.

2. Pick Your Place

Choosing a place for devotional habits is something that has helped me for years. In the new environments of vacation lodging, this can be challenging as well.

The first couple of days on this trip I went for a walk in the morning for my prayer time. The new sites and sounds held a few distractions, but for the most part, I was able to focus. Then I would read my bible in the apartment where my stuff was set up.

Walking may not help you, but maybe there’s a balcony where you can hide for a few minutes, or if things get crazy you could try going to a coffee shop, anywhere that you can be consistent and that is accessible. I’ve known some who get up early and hide in a bathroom for their devotional habits. This wouldn’t be ideal for me but it worked for them.

3. Set Up for It

When you get to where you’re staying get out your Bible, Prayer Notebook, Journal, devotional book, or whatever you need. Make it visible. This visual reminder can help you keep up with your devotional habits.

I like to have a place to keep my Bible (I usually bring a hardcopy with me on vacation), journal, and prayer notebook where I can get to them easily in the morning. This also helps me to not lose them somewhere else.

4. Go To Church

Being in church is one of the best things you can do for your devotional life. On vacation, this can sometimes fall through the cracks, but let me encourage you to make it part of your plan.

There are many reasons to attend church even on the road. We, as believers, need fellowship with other Christians. We need to be challenged from God’s Word even when we can’t be part of the meeting of our local church. It is such a joy to meet like-minded brothers and sisters in other parts of the country.

Going to a different church can feel uncomfortable. You’re not with your church family, you can’t sit in your seat, the pastor may preach differently.

I’ve had some strange experiences visiting churches on vacation. When I was a teenager we went to a church for a Sunday evening service. My family and I arrived a little early and walked up to the front doors. They were unlocked. Assuming that someone was inside we went in to find that the building was empty. After about 20 minutes of us sitting in an empty church building, people started to show up. They had a service and then left, just about as quickly as they came.

This was a strange one, but most of my church visiting experiences have been much better. 

This last week most of my family was able to attend a prayer meeting with a small but great church not far from where we were staying. It was a blessing to sing with these brothers and sisters and to share in their prayer time. We were encouraged to hear the Word of God preached with boldness and clarity.

5. Give Yourself Grace

Give yourself some grace. Not everything will be like it is at home. Leave yourself some room. Remember these habits are about walking with God not keeping up with a checklist.

While I was on vacation my scripture memory plan just didn’t happen. I didn’t choose to stop, it just didn’t happen. But I can get back into it now that I’m home.

One day while I was gone, my schedule went crazy and I ended up reading my bible on my phone away from my journal. I texted myself my journaling thought for the day. I don’t like having my quiet time that way that’s how things worked that day.

When things go different than you had planned remember to put God first, not your habits. Give yourself some grace.

Your Turn

How have you maintained your devotional life while on vacation?

What are some struggles you’ve had in this? (There may be others in the comments who can give help from their experience.)

Are you on vacation? About to go on vacation? Put some of these tips to use and let me know how it goes.

Share this post with anyone you know who is headed out on vacation this summer.

Jehovah Shalom – The Lord Our Peace

I’m a worrier. By that I mean that I find it easy to slip into worry, to get caught up in thinking about the dangers of things, to fret about how someone might respond, or to just be stuck in thoughts of my potential failure. But I’ve learned that I can’t let fear or worry consume me. This fear can be crippling and if I’m not careful it will spread to other areas of my life, and ultimately leave me unable to fulfill the role God has for me in life.

As I look at my life I see that I don’t really have anything to worry about. If there was ever someone who had a right to worry it was a guy we read about in the book of Judges named Gideon.

The Story

Gideon lived in Israel after the nation had been established in the promised land but before they had their first king. During this time Israel was constantly in and out of trouble with other nations because it wasn’t faithful to God (Read more on this in Judges 1-5). 

One day while Gideon was threshing wheat, trying to keep it hidden from the Midianites (the nation oppressing Israel at this time), “the angel of the LORD” appeared to him.

God wanted Gideon to lead His people to deliverance from the captivity of the Midianites. This would be a huge responsibility and Gideon wasn’t sure he was up to the challenge.

After the Angel of the LORD assured him that He would be with him, Gideon brought a meal to the Angel of the LORD, and the angel gave Gideon instructions for the meal to be given as an offering to God.

When the angel set the offering on fire with the tip of his staff Gideon was overwhelmed. It seems that he thought he would die. 

“And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.” 
Judges 6:23 

This must have been a huge comfort to Gideon, the passage goes on to say: 

“Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.” Judges 6:24

Jehovah Shalom

This is one of the names of God that isn’t translated into English for us in the Bible. It is a compound word in Hebrew, made up of the word translated “LORD” or “Jehovah” elsewhere (see my previous article on this name of God) and the Hebrew word “shalom”. 

The word Shalom generally means “peace” or “well-being, health, and prosperity” W. W. Wiersbe, 

While we aren’t given a translation of this combination in English, there are a few options that bible scholars have given for our benefit: “The Lord is peace.”⁠1 – Warren Wiersbe, “the Lord, our peace⁠2” – Roy Gingrich, “The Lord is my peace, or The peace of Jehovah” – Adam Clark.

Though the wording changes from one attempt to another one thing remains consistent through them all: The LORD is PEACE, the connection can’t be ignored.

Application

Prayer is the most potent source of the Peace of God.

“6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 
Philippians 4:6–7

The idea behind the word “careful” is anxiousness or worry. We aren’t to be worried or anxious about anything. But we should be sure to pray about everything

Be careful for NOTHING

Gideon had a lot that he could have been worried about. Imagine the responsibility of leading a nation. Imagine the potential for horrible losses in battle. But he trusted in God.

He talked to God and asked God to give him a sign (the fleece see Judges 6:36-40), later God reassured Gideon of His plan by letting him hear about a dream one of the Midianites had (Judges 7:9-15).

Pray about EVERYTHING

We can ask God to teach us how to trust Him. The missionary Hudson Taylor, while studying medicine before his ministry in China, purposed to never ask for his pay. This would be a way to test his faith in God. If God couldn’t provide for him in his home country how could God provide for him in far off China?

Once, after Hudson Taylor had been impressed by God to give the last of his money to a poor family, he found himself praying again for his daily food and the rent money he owed his very gracious landlord. Out of the blue, a letter was delivered with money that met the needs. He was surely tempted to worry but God proved Himself faithful to Hudson Taylor over and over again and He will be faithful to you.  

Prayer is the avenue of this trust, it is the plan for freedom from worry. We see three parts of this in Phil 4:6

Prayer – Talking to God

Supplication – Pleading with God

Thanksgiving – Thanking and praising God

Don’t be afraid to bring your requests to God or even to plead with Him for an answer.  Then don’t forget to praise Him for the answers to prayer you see and for the peace that He gives.

Studying and Application:

  1. What are some of the greatest areas of worry or concern in your life? How can you pray about these?
  2. Read and compare Colossians 3:15 with Philippians 4:6-7. What relationship should believers have with the “peace of God”?
  3. Review your prayer list. Take a minute to add any new requests now.
anImage_2.tiff

1 Warren Wiersbe, Be Available 2. “Does God Know What He’s Doing?” (Jdg. 6:14–24)

2 Roy Gingrich, The Books of Judges & Ruth E. The Judgeship of Gideon (Chapters 6–8)

Jehovah Qadash – The Lord who Sanctifies You

Once the children of Israel were away from Egypt and had some experience watching God provide for them, heal them and rally them, God took them to a mountain where He would teach them how He wanted them to live.

Israel’s Sanctification

Here God gave them the Law. Starting with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) God began teaching them how to live in relation to Him, to each other and to the world around them.

The book of Leviticus carries on this theme containing God’s instructions for tabernacle worship (the way they would worship in the tent designated for His service). Israel is given a lot of specific instructions about sacrifices and cleanliness in this book. 

In Leviticus 20 God warns the Children of Israel about associating with the worship of Molech, and evil spirits. Then He tells them:

7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God. 8 And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you. 
Leviticus 20:7–8

“sanctify” (verb) – sacred. 

“to set apart, consecrate, dedicate, regard as holy; to set apart as dedicated to God; by extension: pure, innocent, free from impurity”

Mounce

To Israel this meant that as they followed God He would show that they are special, He would let it be seen that they were holy.

New Testament Sanctificaiton

This concept is expanded on for New Testament believers in: 1 Peter 1:15-16.

“15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

“holy” (adjective) – “sacred (phys. pure, mor. blameless or religious, cer. consecrated)”

Strong

This greek word is sometimes translated “saints”. But here it isn’t used positionally as much as it is in a sense of intentional dedication to God. Notice the context:

13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 
1 Peter 1:13–16

These verses point out five things that are involved in this holiness. While they are important in all areas of our sanctification, we’re going to focus on how this passages relates to our prayer.

1. Focus 

“gird up the loins of your mind”

Focusing in prayer is often a point of spiritual warfare. Distractions surround us and obstacles arise. Our minds need to be prepared for action in our prayer like a warrior would bind his clothes up to not hinder his movements in battle.

2. Self-control  

“be sober”

“to be calm, steady, controlled; to weigh matters.”  

Wiersbe, W. W.

We can’t pray as we should when our mind, emotions, or will are out of balance. We need to be sober.

3. Hope 

“and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ”

Without our future sure, and without a sureness of God’s ability and willingness to act on our behalf for good, what’s the point of praying. But we can be sure of God’s word. We pray knowing that our king will return for us.

4. Obedience 

“As obedient children”

Prayer is ultimately seeking God’s will and then acting on it in faith. In this we pray about the mundane and the extraordinary. But we obey.

5. Holiness

“not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance”

Believers are holy through the gift of God the Son, Jesus. In salvation the power our lusts hold over our lives is broken, we can still choose it but we no longer have to choose it. We are no longer ignorant of our place with God. He is Holy, we need to be Holy.

Our own fleshly desires and lusts have no place in our prayers. 

This passage is primarily to be interpreted in the broader view of our sanctification. But prayer is a vital part of our sanctification. In prayer we should be and can be Focused, Sober, Hopeful, Obedient and yes Holy.

Studying and Application:

  1. Think through when and where you have your prayer time. Are there distractions that you have to deal with frequently? Make plans to remove those distractions before your next prayer time.
  2. Read Isaiah’s experience in Isaiah 6. How should an understanding of God’s Holiness change the way we see ourselves and the world around us?
  3. Review your prayer list. Take a minute to add any new requests to your list now

Jehovah Nissi – The LORD Our Banner

The Story

A nation newly freed from captivity in Egypt, just beginning to get her feet under her, struggling for basic needs like water (Exodus 15) and food (Exodus 16), Israel meets her first military threat (Exodus 17:8-16). The Amalekites, a nomadic people distantly related to the Hebrews, had come against them. They must have felt that such a large group of Israelites was a threat to their territory, they were right.

Moses assigned Joshua to lead a choice group of warriors into battle against them while Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of a hill overlooking the battle and Moses raised his staff, “the rod of God”, above his head.

As the battle raged below them, as long as Moses’ staff was raised the tide of battle would be in Joshua’s favor, but as Moses’ hands grew tired and began to droop, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Aaron and Hur must have seen this pattern so they set Moses on a stone and standing on either side of him helped him hold up his hands.

Joshua and the army won the battle.

In the aftermath of this battle God promised the ultimate defeat of the Amalekites to Joshua.

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” 
Exodus 17:14  

Then in verse 15 Moses makes an altar commemorating the battle and the victory that God gave them in it. He named the Altar Jehovah-Nissi, meaning The Lord Our Banner.

Moses knew there would be battles yet to come. And while they were victorious that day, war is never pretty and never easy.

Our Banner

Nissi means banner, flag, or standard (Like a rallying point)

In a battle, this rallying point is vital. Any warrior who may be disconnected from his unit knows where to go. This is where he can find safety and where he can get further instructions for the battle. The banner waving in the breeze reminds and reassures the warrior that the victory can still be won and reinforcements will still be sent.

This is true for believers today as we labor for the cause Christ. Caught up in the details of where we are in the fight it can seem like we’re losing… I imagine this is how David felt when he penned the words of Psalm 61

“1 Hear my cry, O God; Attend unto my prayer. 
2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: 
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 
3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, 
And a strong tower from the enemy. 
4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: 
I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.” 
Psalm 61:1–4 (Take a few minutes as soon as you can to read the rest of this precious Psalm⁠)

God is our banner, our rallying point whether we think the battle is going well or not. When we see victory we can rally to Him, when we feel defeated we can rally to Him. When we aren’t sure where we stand or wonder if our orders have changed we can look to The Lord Our Banner.

Our Rally Point in Prayer

This is how we should see our prayer. No matter what we feel or where we are we can make it to our Rallying Point through prayer.

You are not alone

Moses and his staff provide a object lesson on prayer. Notice his strength failed, his arms got tired and his staff came down. But there were people with him who literally came alongside him. Aaron and Hur were there to help him. This is why we meet for prayer. 

One of the key, indispensable functions of a biblical church is prayer. Paul, in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 said it is “first” or the most important thing we do. Our prayer meetings are a time for us to rally together to Jehovah our Banner and raise our requests and cares to Him, and to do it with the help of our fellow believers. And to be the help our fellow believers will surely need in prayer.

Studying and Application:

  1. How can you better make prayer a “first” thing in your life or in your church? What is one practical step you can make toward this goal today?
  2. Are there some requests that have you “weary” in your prayer life? Share this with your church or Sunday school class to get others praying with you. If you can’t share it that publicly share this request with your pastor or trusted christian friend.
  3. Review your prayer list. What are the victories God has given you in prayer this week? Take a minute to add any new requests to your list now

Jehovah Rapha – The Lord Who Heals

The nation of Israel has just been freed from slavery in Egypt. God has shown His great power in their Exodus through the plagues that Egypt endured and in the overthrow of the armies of Egypt in the Red Sea. 

Imagine walking on dry ground through the sea then turning to watch the most feared army in the world destroyed as the walls of water come crashing down. How could this special people not see God’s power? How could they question His ability to care for them?

This is where we find the nation of Israel in Exodus 15:22-26. Their “big problem” of chapter 14, the army, was solved. That leaves them with a new problem: water (v 22). Moses finds himself being responsible to find water for ≈ 2.5 million people along with their livestock.

Marah

Three days into this problem they arrived at a place called “Marah” where there’s a pool of water. “Marah” means bitter, and as it’s name indicates that water was bitter and they couldn’t drink from this pool (v. 23). We don’t know from scripture if they were being water snobs and the water didn’t taste good enough for them or if the foul taste indicated something worse. Either way this source of water wasn’t the solution they had hoped for.

So what do they do? Do they pray about it? Do they encourage Moses that they’re with him and trust him? No. They complained… They didn’t ask God to heal the waters, they went straight to complaining.

“And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?” 
Exodus 15:24

Moses however went to God with this problem. He prayed and God showed him a tree to cut down into the pool and the “waters were made sweet.” (v. 25)

God gave them a decree. As they stood before the waters that they knew God had healed, He gave them this message:

“And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.” 
Exodus 15:26

The LORD Who Heals

“The LORD that healeth thee” translates the name of God “Jehovah” (see a previous article in this series for more on this Name) and the Hebrew word “Rapha” which means “to mend (by stitching), i.e. (fig.) to cure⁠1” 

In this context this word most specifically refers to the idea of treatment, prevention, or the alleviation of the symptoms of a disease. But the word itself meaning “to mend” refers back in the context to the healing of the “waters of Marah.”

It’s special for God to speak about healing in this way. They may have been in great fear of the power of God. They had just seen God unleash some terrifying plagues on the people of Egypt just before their release from slavery:

  1. Water becoming blood (Ex 7:14-24)
  2. Frogs (Ex 7:25-8:15)
  3. Dust becomes lice (Ex 8:16-19)
  4. Flies (Ex 8:20-32)
  5. Plague among the animals (Ex 9:1-7)
  6. Boils (Ex 9:8-12)
  7. Great Hail (Ex 9:13-35)
  8. Locust (Ex 10:1-20)
  9. Darkness that could be felt (Ex 10:21-29)
  10. Death of the First-born (Ex 11:1-10, 12:29-30)

Many of these things could, and did, cause great health problems, or physical injury. And then, think, if God could do all of that what other harm could He cause.

But now they’ve seen God heal. They’ve seen God restore this water to something that can be used. He is no longer just a God that releases destruction on those who stand against Him, He is the LORD who gives healing to those who walk in His way.

The Lord WILL Heal

God makes another promise of healing to the people of Israel in the book of 2 Chronicles.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 
2 Chronicles 7:14 (Emphasis mine)

This is in the context of the completion and dedication of Solomon’s temple. God wanted His people to know that He stood ready to heal them. “Heal” in this verse is translating the same Hebrew word as the one used in Exodus 15:26. 

While the primary application of this promise belongs only to the Children of Israel, we as God’s people can apply a few of these principles ourselves.

Listen to and obey God

We can and should humble ourselves to God (James 4:10 see context), pray to God, seek God’s face and leave behind any evil ways we’ve been traveling down.

Prayer for His healing

The world around us and all the people in it are broken. Our hope is to call on the Lord Who Heals

We can not only pray for our own healing but also for the healing of those around us. God will hear, and He will Heal.

Studying and Application:

  1. Read Job 1-3. How could the evil of this world and the ways God leads us to growth give us a fearful view of God’s power?
  2. Think over your perspective of God. Would you say you view Him as being more destructive or healing?
  3. Review your prayer list. How has God worked in these areas you’ve been praying? Take a minute to add any new requests to your list now

Footnote:

1 Strong, J. (2009). A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Vol. 2, p. 110). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

Jehovah Jireh – The Lord will Provide

God told Abraham to Sacrifice his Son Isaac

One night God gave His servant Abraham a very usual instruction.

“And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” 
Genesis 22:2

This was a test. God wanted to see Abrahams faith. He had trusted God for his son, would he trust God with his son?

Imagine Abrahams confusion. This was the son that God had promised to him so long ago. This was answer to his prayers. His pride and joy. Now God wanted Abraham to offer him as a sacrifice.

Abraham was ready to obey God

What do you think Abraham did? the Bible says he got up the next day and got to it. He didn’t hesitate, but immediately prepared for the trip and set out to the mountain that God would show him. He took with him everything he would need to make this sacrifice. 

After three days of travel they could see he mountain off in the distance. Abraham left the young men he had brought along with the animals and most of the stuff, then he and Isaac went on to the mountain carrying the wood for the fire, the fire and a knife.

As they climbed Isaac asked a question: “Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Gen 22:7) Isaac could see that something was missing, he had surely seen many other offerings performed but this one lacked the key part: the lamb.

Abraham answered: “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering” (Gen  22:8) Even this close to where God had told him to sacrifice his son, Abraham was sure that God would meet the need.

God Met Abrahams Need

They got the place where the offering was to be made, Abraham set up the altar, laid out the wood. Then he tied up his son, laid him on the wood, and took out the knife that had been brought for him to kill his son as a sacrifice to God.

Just as he was about to use the knife God stopped Abraham

“11 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 
12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.” 
Genesis 22:11–12 

Abraham then looked and behind him a ram was caught in the undergrowth. He used this ram as the substitute for his son. God had provided for the sacrifice. Abraham named the altar “Jehovah-Jireh” beginning the saying: “In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.” (Gen 22:14)

But note: God didn’t provide a “lamb” like the passage leads you to expect. Vereses 16-18 give us an indication of why this is.

God Made a Promise to Abraham that would Meet the needs of all Humanity

In verses 16-18 we see God’s promised blessing of Abraham and his decedents. God would bless his faith and obedience greatly through many generations. This blessing was so great that wouldn’t be just for Abraham’s decendents. 

“And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” 
Genesis 22:18 

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of this promise. Jesus is “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Through Him all nations of the earth are blessed. He is the lamb that God provided. And He was sacrificed as a substitute for every human being. God has provided Himself a lamb.

The Lord will still provide for Us

But the gift of Jesus Christ holds one further lesson about how “The Lord will Provide.” 

Jesus IS the provision of our greatest need: redemption. But He is also an indication of how far God will go to meet each and every need.

“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” 
Romans 8:32

If God was willing to give His Only Son as the cost of the provision of our need, what would He withhold.

We tend to spend a pretty good chunk of time in our prayers telling God about our needs and the needs of those we care about. These prayers and supplications don’t fall on deaf ears. God hears, cares, and has proven that He can and will meet our needs.

As we pray, let’s present our needs to the Lord who Provides with understanding that there isn’t a need that He can’t or won’t meet.

Studying and Application:

  1. What are some needs that you have or should present to God? (List them out)
  2. Are you willing to trust God with these needs in the same way Abraham trusted God with his son? Talk to God about the level of trust you currently have.
  3. What promises of God’s provision have given you boldness in prayer?

Adonai

If the president of the United States, or the Governor of your state walked in to the room right now how would you address him?  How do you address your boss when you want to show him/her proper respect?

I often use terms like “sir” or “ma’am.” If I want to show respect I won’t call them “dude”. I also don’t ignore the place of authority they have over me.

Respecting God

The name of God we are looking at today is a term of respect. Adoni is used 772 time in the Old Testament. But only 133 of those are in reference to God. It’s other uses are referring to people who hold a position of authority, whether that’s an office or temporary place of influence and power.

Examples of this are when Sarah calls Abraham her “lord”.

“Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” 
Genesis 18:12 

Sarah is pointing out the place of authority that Abraham has in her life as her husband.

Later in Genesis 32:18, Jacob calls Esau “my lord”. Esau held no formal place of authority over Jacob, but Jacob submitted to him in this way. 

The word formally means: “sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine) [Strong]” This is someone who is in charge for good or ill. But when referring to God it indicates respect and an acknowledgment of the authority that God holds.

Adonai in Prayer

Genesis 18 gives an interesting account where this name of God is used in prayer. Abraham has the unique opportunity to intercede for the people of Sodom before the LORD, face to face.

In one of the most bold prayer times recorded in Scripture, Abraham pleads the case of a wicked people. He looks for God to spare them for the sake of the few righteous peoples that may be in these cities.

Genesis 18 – In Abrahams intercession for Sodom and Gommora he used this title to refer to God in verses 3, 27, 30-32

Abraham hears what God intends to do to the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah in verses 17-22. The cries of the sin and the oppressed have reached the ears of the Just God of the Universe, and justice will come. Then the “men” that were with the LORD went on toward Sodom. And Abraham began to speak to the LORD.

Abraham begins, “Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” Genesis 18:23b

As Abraham begins his appeal God agrees to spare the city if 50 righteous people are found in it. (Gen 18:26) 

Then Abraham appeals again. This time for mercy if 5 of the 50 are lacking, and God agrees to spare the city if 45 righteous people are found in it. (Gen 18:27-28)

In this second appeal though Abraham makes this statement: 

“… Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes” 
Gen 18:27

The word “Lord” is translating Adoni. Abraham is making an appeal based on the ultimate authority that God holds. He acknowledged that he, himself was nothing, just “dust and ashes.” 

Abrahams humility is seen further on as well. Through this passage he continues to make appeals to God for the sake of Sodom, each time lowering the number of “righteous” people for whom God would spare the city.

Verse 29 we see God will spare it for 40, in verse 30 God agrees to spare the city for 30, then 20 in verse 31 and finally 10 in verse 32. 

In the last three of these appeals Abraham uses the name Adoni in his appeal. Abraham knew God’s authority and he wanted that to be clear in how he prayed.

Application

This prayer session between God and His friend Abraham (James 2:23) illustrate how submission to God’s authority and boldness in prayer can go hand-in-hand.

Just as Abraham interceded with the goal of changing God’s chosen course, we can have boldness to pray on behalf of those that seem to be headed to certain destruction. We can acknowledge and respect God’s absolute authority and pray for God to answer our prayer.

Abraham wasn’t praying to prove a point or to teach a lesson on intercessory prayer, he was pleading with God for the sake of his nephew Lot and his family who had moved to Sodom and been caught up in the depraved lifestyle of that city. (See Genesis 13:1-13 for the story behind Lot’s move to Sodom.)

Pray with concern, real concern. Pray knowing that God holds absolute authority in the matter you are praying about. Pray boldly. Pray.

Studying and Application:

  1. Think back on some answered prayers, how has God shown in these that He has absolute authority? How have these effected your prayer life?
  2. Is there anything that you haven’t had the boldness to prayer for/about yet? In a humble spirit add those things to your prayer list this week.
  3. Review your prayer requests from last week. How has God worked in these areas you’ve been praying about? Take a minute to add any new requests to your list now.

Jehovah

Getting ahold of people

*Ring* *Ring*

I jumped up from my seat and ran across the house to the phone in the kitchen. When I got to the receiver I took a quick breath, because I didn’t want to sound rushed, then I picked up the phone.

“Hello, Spilgers. How can I help you?” I answered as professionally as I could.

“Hello, is Ken there?” Said the voice on the other end of the line. I asked them to hold and went to find my Dad, the person they had called to talk to.

This scene played out countless times between me and my 6 siblings. We would want to be the first person to the phone, but if we were being honest we knew that almost all the calls would be for Dad or Mom.

The first phone call ever was made on March 10, 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell to his assistant Thomas Watson. The entire call communicated these nine words:

“Mr. Watson–come here–I want to see you.”

Alexander Bell needed his assistant. He got ahold of him. He called him by his name. And Mr. Watson understood and came to the room Mr. Bell had spoken from.

Whether he knew it or not Mr. Bell was following the form for most of the phone calls I’ve received in my life. “Jonathan, come here, bring this, get that, go there.” Phones, and now cell phones and texting, have helped us get ahold of people in ways that were unimaginable before their invention.

Who we call is important. And knowing that we can get ahold of them is important.

Prayer is how we get ahold of God.

When we get ahold of God we call Him by His name, not just His title but His name. Let’s look again at the first mention of prayer in scripture:

“And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.”
Genesis 4:26 

Seth and his descendants were the first to pray to God by His name: Jehovah.

Jehovah is the most frequently used name of God, being used 5791 times in the Bible. This name is identified in the Bible in English by “LORD” or “GOD” in all caps (in some the publisher will use small capitals: “LORD” or “GOD”).

Jehovah means: “self-Existent or Eternal.” This is God’s proper name and the fact that it is specified is significant. It sets an example of calling on God, and that in that call we call on the name of the Lord: Jehovah.

“Jehovah” Explained to Moses

God explains the meaning of this name Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:13-14

“And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”

The term“I AM” in Hebrew means to exist.

God wanted Israel to know that Moses was coming under His authority. God is the only self-existent being. Everything and everyone else was created by Him.

Jehovah’s Invitation to Pray

Later during the time of the Exile from the promised land God again identified Himself by His name, Jehovah, and encouraged His people Israel to call on Him. Speaking to Jeremiah He said:

“2 Thus saith the LORD (Jehovah) the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name;
3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
Jeremiah 33:2–3

Jehovah is the maker, former, and establisher and He is inviting them to call on His name and see answers that they can’t begin to fathom.

Jesus Invites us to Use His Name in Prayer

We aren’t without promises like this in the New Testament era. In John 16 Jesus invites us to pray and ask things in His name:

“23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. [Speaking of when they will see Jesus again] Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” 
John 16:23-24

Jesus is saying that His name means something. When we pray in Jesus’ name we are calling on the name of the Lord. This isn’t a magic trick for getting what we want when we want it, but it is a promise from our savior of answered prayer.

Our prayer in Jesus name can’t be just a set of words “in Jesus name…” It must be sincere prayer, seeking God’s best, accompanied by a confidence in the fact that God will hear and answer prayer. 

Studying and Application:

  1. How did men communicate with God before the account in Gen 4:26 of the first prayer? (Look at Gen 1-4 for this information)
  2. Do you use the phrase “In Jesus Name” when you pray? If so, how has God used this in your life and prayer?
  3. Review your prayer requests from last week. How has God worked in these areas you’ve been praying about? Take a minute to add any new requests to your list now.

Elohim

What do we call God? Well, most of the time we call Him “God”. But, what does it MEAN when we call Him “God”?

*Nerd Alert*

Of the 3,336 times the English word “God” is used in the Old Testament it is translating the Hebrew word “Elohim” 2,200 times. The term “Elohim” is used to refer to other beings aside from the One True God. But of the 2,600 times it is used in the Bible, it is used approximately 2,026 of those to refer to God.

In Genesis 1 we can see that the main way it will be used in the Bible is to refer to Jehovah God, the creator of the universe.

“In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heaven and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1

This is God’s office name. It shows to all that hear it that God is divine. This name is intended to show the power and might that God holds as a part of His character. This power is seen very clearly in Genesis 1. 

“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” 
Genesis 1:3 

God in His power and might spoke the universe into existence. And in His power He reigns over all things and peoples, and will reign for eternity.

“The LORD shall reign for ever, Even thy God (Elohim), O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD” 
Psalm 146:10
“Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God (Greek: Theos) Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.” 
Revelation 11:17 

Praying to God

Psalm 65 gives a beautiful example of praying to God. Please take a minute and read this Psalm now, a few of the verses will be quoted directly for context, with a few comments.

“1 Praise waiteth for thee, O God (Elohim), in Sion: And unto thee shall the vow be performed 
2 O thou that hearest prayer, Unto thee shall all flesh come.” 
Psalm 65:1–2 

God is THE God that hears our prayer. He is worthy of all praise. And we can be sure of an answer.

“5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; Who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:  
6 Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; Being girded with power:  
7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas, The noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.” 
Psalm 65:5–7

God’s answers to prayer will come by the same strength with which He made the world. He set the mountains in place and He stills the waves. God alone stands in authority to still the “tumult of the people.”

God sustains the earth. He gives water to the land, provides the harvest, and makes livestock produce bountifully (See verses 9-13). Yet in all this care for the vastness of creation, God doesn’t lose sight of the individual.

“Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, And causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, Even of thy holy temple.”
Psalm 65:4 

He cares for all of creation, yet He cares for each person that He has chosen. God gives them access to Himself. God satisfies each and everyone with the “goodness” of His house.

God is the God of might. He is also God who hears and answers prayer. He is God who sustains His creation and calms the peoples.

Verse 5 calls Him “God of our salvation”. God’s love for us made the way to salvation for all who will believe in Jesus, God the Son.

“For God (Greek: Theos) so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16

This gift meets the greatest need humanity has: Salvation from the penalty of Sin. And through this we have access to God like we see in Psalm 65.

This is a glimpse of what the Bible shows us of God with His name Elohim. What a comfort to pray to the creator and ruler of the universe!

Studying and Application:

  1. How can the consciousness of God’s power as creator influence how we pray?
  2. List 1-3 things that you are going to begin praying about. Decide on a time of the day to pray. This consistency will help you maintain a focus on the power of God throughout your day.
  3. Study the phrase “God of gods” in Psalm 136:2. What does the phrase indicate about the authority of the One True God?

The Most Important Thing

You walk in to church, this meeting is going to be different you’ve decided that you’re going to do the most important thing first, then the next most important thing, then the next…

So you walk right past all your friends, you bypass the coffee table, and you start. You’re not listening to announcements or reaching for a hymnal. You bow your head and with the rest of the congregation you start praying. This prayer is meaningful, not quick and formal. You pray for each other, then for lost people around you to be saved. Then you pray for your government officials by name, even the ones you don’t like.

You see, if we take the Biblical approach to church meetings the most important thing we do is pray.

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1 Timothy 2:1–2

First of All

I like the focus of this statement, “first of all.” While there are lots of things we can (and should) do in church meetings, this one is first. First in priority if not in order of service. While I don’t think this post will prompt all church attendees to stop talking to each other before church, I hope I can remind you in the next few paragraphs of the great value of prayer.

Pray, pray, pray, pray

This passage points out four areas of prayer, or kinds of prayer. Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, and Giving Thanks. 

Think through these when you’re praying. I know personally I can get a bit self-focused in prayer (supplication), when I really need to be praying for others (intercession) or praising God for all that He has done for me (giving of thanks).

Even when praying as a church we can be in seasons of difficulty where we wouldn’t naturally consider thanksgiving, or when we are blessed and praising but don’t bear the burdens of others in Intercession.

How To Make it Important

Application comes down to personal choices. In personal prayer make the time to pray meaningfully. Make this time as early in the day as you can. This is never easy, but it’s worth it. (More could be said about this but I’ll hold off for a future post.)

In church, don’t let prayer become rote or obligatory. Prayer isn’t a transition between things in the order of service, prayer is talking to The Almighty, prayer answering God Who knows when you’re just going through the motions.

When you pray publicly, pray to God. Don’t pray for the approval of anyone else hearing. Their approval is fleeting. God is looking for faithful sincerity.

What about you?

Write in the comments below: How do you do your personal prayer time? How has your church applied this teaching that you think might be helpful to others?