Deuteronomy 4:39
The Considerations of God
Cheating on Jesus
Read Deuteronomy 4:39. I once thought it wasn’t cheating if I were the one giving answers, not getting them. In that same moment, I also believed myself to be alllll right because I was helping someone in need. Thing is, I wasn’t helping that someone in need at all. Looking back, a good slap upside the head would have been just as effective. My mom used to say, “I’d like to just shake the pudding out of him,” when she grew weary of someone refusing to learn life’s lessons. We are not violent people.
Cheating is a peculiar hobby. Some folks spend more time and effort creating a way to cheat than they would have actually spent doing the whatever to begin with. And cheating is a vicious circle because that person isn’t doing anything other than going around something else. Nothing is being learned. Nothing is being gained. Nothing is being owned. So the cheater loses.
Are you a cheater? Think outside school and work and game night. Do you cheat with Christ?
The Duracell commercial with the voiceover that says, “If you think all batteries are the same, consider this,” is stuck in my head. It will not leave. It’s a good commercial because the company understands the amount of talk that goes on in our lives. It understands that a whole lot of us are cheaters who circle around, never knowing. Duracell, in its commercial, stops and teaches. “Consider this,” it says. No matter what else you hear, “Consider this.”
Deuteronomy 4:39 says, “Know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.” Consider this, the writer says. Know this. Write these words on your heart, he says. “The Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.”
Do you cheat on Jesus? Do you talk a good talk around our Savior? Or are you learning Him?
Read Deuteronomy 4:32-40. Remember a time when you needed someone to say, “Consider this, the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.” Are you willing to do the same for others? If so, ask God to give you courage to speak out.
Watch the video, “That’s My King! Do You Know Him?” Who is someone you can share this with? If you don't know God, are you ready to do so?
He has Done Great Things
Who are great people in your life? What makes them great? So often we are quick to observe great things that people do: charity contributions, humanitarian efforts, major inventions and developments that aid society. How often do you stop and consider the greatness of God? Take a minute to contemplate His greatness.
Read 1 Samuel 12:20-25. Reread verse 24. Samuel implores the people to fear and serve the Lord alone. Why? Because He has done great things. Pause for a few moments.
What great things has God done for you? Take time to consider His greatness in your life. Make a list of all the things God has done for you. After you’ve listed everything you can think of, go back through your list and thank Him for each great thing He’s done.
With your list in front of you, consider your reaction to God’s greatness in your life. Are you living out a life of gratitude and glory to your Creator? Spend some time in prayer asking God to align your heart with His, to help you live to fear and serve only Him.
For further reflection, listen to the song "Psalm 126 (You Have Done Great Things)" by Charlie Hall and Passion Worship Band. Spend some time worshipping God for His greatness.
Job 23:15 and 37:14
Considerations of God
Back in elementary school, we used to have a day every once in a while known as DEAR
day. I loved DEAR day. On that day, we got to bring books to school and “Drop Everything And Read.” How cool is that? We were told to stop doing our schoolwork
and sit a read a book. That may sound like torture to some people, but I
thought it was pretty cool.
Do you ever take time to drop everything and think about God? (maybe
we could call this DEATAG?) Not just a quick thought, but to really,
deeply, think about God? Do you think about what He is like? Do you
think about things He has done or wants to do?
In Job 37:14, one of Job’s friends tells Job to DEATAG. He says,
“Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.” He then goes
on to remind Job of all that God has done and the power and might that He
has.
Today, I challenge you to DEATAG. Get rid of the distractions, and take some
time to simply think about who God is, and what He has done. By taking time to
consider God, we are showing Him reverence and honor. How we rever and
consider God has a direct influence on the priority we place on Him!
Read: Job 37:14-24
Pray: Ask God to help you remove distractions from your life, so that you can spend time thinking about Him.
Act: Take some time today to think about and consider who God is, and what He is like.
Psalm 8:3-4; 50:22-23; 64:9; 119:95
Considerations of God
A few years ago, I traveled in the Andes Mountains in South America. The Andes is the longest mountain range in the world, stretching some 4,500 miles from north to south on the South American continent, as well as having some of
the highest mountain peaks in the world. It’s an understatement to say it this way, but man are these mountains big! As I traveled in this mountain range, there were several times I found myself feeling very small. I don’t know if it was the
3,000-foot drop that our bus almost went over or the snow-covered peaks that I saw towering above me or the waterfall that fell more than 1,000 feet into a valley or the 200-foot drop that I almost fell down while hiking to a village, but I was
continually reminded of how big the mountains were and how small I was.
In the book of Psalm, several passages were written to help you and I consider how big God is and how small we are. God is big. He created the Andes Mountains, the planet we are on, the universe we live in and all the space that is beyond the 13.7 billion light years of distance that we can see through the Hubble Telescope. Yet God still is mindful of us, our ways and our needs.
Today consider our big God. Let yourself become small in your own eyes as he gets bigger!
Read: Psalm 8:3-4; 50:22-23; 64:9; 119:95
Pray: Thank God for considering you. Ask Him to show you how big He is and how small you are.
Act: Look for places in creation that show you how big God is.
Ecclesiastes 7:13-14
The Considerations of God
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
When was the last time you had a plan and everything worked out just as you had planned? If we’re honest, that’s rare, right? Usually we plan and work and stress in an effort to make things happen just so, just according to our plan, only to get frustrated in the end when things don’t align perfectly. Our natural human reaction tends to be frustration and anger, but should it be?
Read Ecclesiastes 7:13-14.
Now read those two verses again.
Life is never going to be without its hiccups, the crooked spots in our paths. The author points out, though, that even those crooked little adversities are not outside of God’s hand. In fact, He allows all things—good, bad and ugly—to cross our paths.
What’s your typical reaction to obstacles you face?
We may never know or understand exactly why things happen the way they do in this lifetime, but one thing we can know for certain: God is in control. He does have a plan and a purpose for our lives—every twist, turn and bump included. Perhaps He allows both the good and bad to cross our paths merely as a reminder that He is working out everything.
Spend a few minutes in prayer. Ask God to help you reconcile with twists and turns in your path that you may not appreciate. Ask for His forgiveness in areas you haven’t trusted Him or in areas that you’ve complained and grumbled when things didn’t go your way. Commit to trusting His plan and purpose for your life.
Thank Him that He is in control!
Isaiah 1:3; 5:12; and 41:20
The Considerations of God
Pay attention! Have you ever heard this? From your parents? A teacher? Maybe a coach? God, in His greatness and power, is calling us to pay attention to Him. To stop our busy lives and consider who He is. Far too often, we are guilty of not thinking about Him, not considering Him. He is completely deserving of our time and attention; pay attention to Him today!
Read: Isaiah 1:2-3, Isaiah 5:12, and Isaiah 41:18-20.
Pray: Have there been times in your life when you have not paid attention to God? Confess those times to Him, and ask for strength to change your thought patterns.
Act: Spend some time thinking about ways that you have seen God at work in your life or someone else’s life.
Hosea 7:2
The Considerations of God
Every driver knows that you have to check the condition of your vehicle before taking a long trip. In fact, it is helpful to do regular maintenance to keep your vehicle operating at peak capacity. Every wise person knows that you need to do similar “regular check-ups” on yourself to see if you need maintenance. The condition of our heart or direction of our life can cause us to need maintenance.
The Check-Up ...
Are your decisions based on what you want? Are they based on what you think will be the most fun? Or are your decisions made out of a desire to follow Jesus, no matter the cost?
What is your attitude like? Are you negative about people and situations? Are you easily angered? Do you have resentment toward others? Or are you trying to live in peace with everyone out of a love for Jesus and for those around you?
How are the desires you have shaping your life? Do you desire material possessions, friendships, gossip, your own way? Or do you have a growing desire for God, the things of God and for people to have a personal relationship with Jesus?
Do you need some maintenance? Anything need to change or get fixed?
A Look Back ...
The people of Israel were a lot like us. They found it easy to get caught up in what was going on day to day in their lives and to forget about growing in their relationship with God. They forgot to do regular “check-ups,” which led them to get way off track. Don’t be like that.
Read: Hosea 7:1-7 (focus on v2)
Pray: Ask God to show you the condition of your heart. Are you God-focused or self-focused? Thank God for loving you, even though you sin.
Act: As you go through the day, evaluate your decisions. Are they God-focused or self-focused? Do you know about God or do you really know Him? If you know Him, then He will be a consideration at every turn in your life.
Haggai 1:5-7
The Considerations of God
Days of Your Life
Take a few minutes and think through your daily schedule. What are your habits, your
routines? How do you spend your free time? Who do you talk to at school? Who do you
text? How much time do you spend talking with your friends? How much time do you
spend watching TV or surfing online?
Read Haggai 1:5.
Why do you think God commands the people to consider their ways? Could something
be out of whack with their routine? Could something be missing?
What about your routine? Is there anything missing?
Read Haggai 1:7.
Again, the Lord instructs His people to consider their ways.
Read verse 6 now.
God points out that the people go through all of these motions: they work, earn money, eat, drink, wear clothes, yet they are not satisfied. Something’s missing for them. So He commands them to examine their routines and ask whether their attitude is right before Him.
So what about you? Is your attitude right before the Lord? Are you including Him in
your routine? Better yet, are you centering your life around Him, or are you fitting Him in around your life?
Spend some time examining your attitude and your routine. Ask the Lord to help you set your schedule around Him and let Him fill the rest of your time.
Luke 12:24-31
Considerations of God
Do you ever get stressed about stuff? Of course you do; we all do at times! In Luke12:24-31, Jesus talks to His disciples, telling them not to worry about stuff in life. When we worry about what we will eat or what we will wear, we are not trusting God to provide for us and to take care of us. When we seek Him first, He will take care of us! So, stop worrying, and seek God first!
Read: Luke 12:24-31.
Pray: Ask God if there are areas of worry in your life. Confess those to Him and ask for strength to put your complete trust in Him.
Act: Take some time to write down 10 or 15 things that you are thankful for. When we think about the ways that God has provided, it is easier to trust Him with the stuff we are facing.
Hebrews 12:3
Considerations of God
Saving Private Ryan is a movie about a platoon of soldiers in WWII that is sent to bring home Private James Ryan, the only surviving member of four brothers fighting in Europe. The army orders the platoon to risk their lives so that Private Ryan can return home safely. By the end of the movie, many soldiers had given their lives so that Private Ryan might live.
The reality of our situation is a lot like the scenario in the movie. We are in need of some help! We cannot survive on our own what life throws at us! We run into trouble; we make poor decisions; we turn our backs toward God. That is why God sent his Son to bring us safely “home” to heaven. It is because of Jesus that we can have forgiveness for our sin and have a relationship with God. Without that Jesus, we have no hope of making it “home” at the end of this life.
Read: Hebrews 12:3-4
Pray: Thank God for Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross. Ask for forgiveness for the sins you’ve commited. Thank God for loving you and sending Jesus.
Act: Today, tell someone else about what God has done for them through Jesus’s death on the cross.
Have you ever had a crush on someone you’ve never spoken with? Perhaps
someone you regularly passed at the market or who worked at your favorite
store? Someone who was pretty great until you learned about his/her character?
Before loving someone you must know who he/she is. How would family or friends
describe this person? The same is true for God. If you know nothing about Him, how
can you give Him your heart?
Astle, again in his book, says, “God has revealed through His Word certain things that are true of Himself. Since He is infinite, any ‘list’ of His attributes is incomplete.”
Here are several characteristics that we know to always be true about God. Commit
them to memory.
Psalm 119:90; Lamentations 3:21-23
God's Attributes: His Faithfulness (ever true)
God is no yes-man
Read Psalm 119:89-90 and Lamentations 3:19-24.
Define “faithfulness” using dictionary.com. Based on given definitions, name one person in your life who is wholly faithful, someone who is forever loyal, constant, factual, reliable, always fulfills promises, etc.
I know a woman whose husband has several health issues fighting against him, including dementia and Parkinson’s Disease.
Some days, he forgets who she is and insists on calling his girlfriend. She manages their lives. She cleans him. She listens to his elaborate stories of happenings that in no way, shape or form could have happened. Yet in whatever decisions are to be made, this woman respects her husband and asks for his opinion. In daily life, this woman allows her husband to lead in whatever capacity he is able.
It’s difficult to name one person who is wholly faithful. This woman comes close. But she is human, and she makes mistakes, and she doesn’t always know what to do. She can’t see the big picture, and she no doubt has let her family down on more than one occasion.
Who is your person? Can you say he/she has never lied to you, never looked out for
self instead of for your best, never agreed with you just to make you happy?
Reread Psalm 119:90 and Lamentations 3:21-23. Do you believe these verses? Do
you believe the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth, to be faithful? Have you been in
a situation when you thought the Lord deserted you only to look back and realize
it was only through Him that you were able to survive? Journal a list of times when
you saw God’s faithfulness.
If Jesus ate supper with you tonight, what would you ask Him about being faithful?
Today, how do you need Him to show His faithfulness? Pray now and ask Him to
hear what’s on your heart and thank Him for His steadfast love and for being to-infinity-and-back faithful.
Psalm 31:19, 145:9
God's Attributes: His Goodness (countless provisions)
So, so good
Read Psalm 31:19.
What does it mean to “be good”? How would you describe God’s goodness? Where do you see the abundance of God’s goodness?
Read Psalm 31:19 again.
This time, pray through the verse. For example, tell the Lord how abundant His goodness is. Spend some time reflecting on this verse. To whom does God show the abundance of His goodness? How do you “take refuge” in the Lord?
Turn to Psalm 145:9. David proclaims that God is good to all! How does that affect the way you live your life? What are you doing to proclaim the goodness of God?
Spend some time in prayer thanking the Lord for His goodness to you. Ask Him to show you ways to share His goodness and mercy with others.
After spending some time in prayer, take a few minutes and write a statement declaring God’s goodness as you see it in the world around you. Use the space below to write, if you wish.
Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:8-9
God's Attributes: His Grace (unmerited favor)
Grace is a word that gets used a lot in church. We hear it in sermons and sing about it in songs all the time. But what is grace? What does it mean? One way to describe grace is “unmerited favor,” or getting something that we don’t deserve. God is a
gracious God, and He has shown us the ultimate form of grace by sending His son, Jesus, to die for our sins. As humans, we did not really deserve this, but that is what grace is about. It can be tempting to think that we have to do something to get this grace, or earn it in some way, but that is not how grace works.
We simply need to come to God and accept His grace in our lives. When we begin to
understand His grace, our lives will be full of worship to God and grace toward others.
Read: Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 11:6
Pray: Ask God to help you understand the depth of His grace. Pray that you could receive His grace in your life and that you could give that grace to the people around you.
Act: Are there any areas in your life where you are trying to earn something from God? Give these things up and learn to accept God’s grace!
Romans 3:23, Revelation 4:8
God's Attributes: His Holiness (Majestic Purity)
Have you ever been the best at something? Anything? I don’t know that I’ve ever been the best at anything in my life. There always seems to be someone who is a little better, more creative, stronger, better looking, nicer smelling or just cooler than me.
But I keep trying!
Fortunately, in our spiritual life, we don’t have to worry about being the best. God’s the best hand’s down! And because of God’s grace and mercy, we can have the gift of faith. Why? Because God is totally and fully pure (or holy). And in His ultimate lack of sin, He has the complete ability to either bring judgment or forgiveness. While He has every right to deliver total judgment on sin, he provides a way for us all to have forgiveness (a clean slate) in regards to our sin. This is part of God’s holiness. He can forgive and forget!
Today, think about this: All of us are fully affected by sin, and God is fully unaffected by sin. And while we may find it hard to believe, God forgives us.
Read: Romans 3:23 & Revelation 4:8
Pray: Thank God for His love and forgiveness. Thank Him for what Jesus accomplished on the Cross. Ask God to help you live a life of purity.
Act: Pursue purity. Look for ways to avoid the “sin traps” that you usually fall into. You can do it with God’s help!
Malachi 3:6, James 1:17
God's Attributes: His Immutability (unchanging nature)
Always and Forever
Try to imagine always and forever. Do you have an image in mind? We, as humans, can’t grasp forever, no matter how hard we try. We live in the here and now, and we are constantly changing—our appearance, our attitude, our likes and dislikes,
our friends, our cars, our jobs, our goals and dreams. Can you imagine wearing the same outfit for the rest of forever? Can you imagine never changing your mind on a decision? Can you imagine never growing old? The world we live in continually
changes, and we tend to keep right up with it.
In the midst of an ever-changing environment, surrounded by ever-changing people, we can be sure of one thing: God is, was, and always will be.
Read Malachi 3:6.
Read it again. How does it make you feel that the Lord never changes? In fact, He never has changed. It would go against the very nature of God for Him to change. Not only is He the same yesterday, today and always, His love for you has never and
will never change.
Spend some time in worship of your Creator, the One who stays the same always. Thank Him that He never changes His mind, He never rides the fence, He never stabs you in the back; He always stays the same. Ask for His guidance in following His ways. Ask Him to steady your ever-changing nature so that you might stay faithful to Him.
To read more, check out James 1.
Jeremiah 31:3, Romans 5:8
God's Attributes: His Love (unconditional affection)
The concept of love gets used in a lot of different ways. I love music. I love my wife. I love Chinese food. All completely different types of things that I love. When we talk about the way God loves us, we talk about an unconditional love. “Unconditional” is such a cool concept. God loves us without question, without conditions. He does not love us based on what we do or don’t do. He can’t love us more, and He can’t love us less. It is a perfect love. How can you improve on perfection? Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That is an amazing thought. Even though we are sinful, less-than-perfect people, God showed His love for us by sending His only son for us. That is unconditional love!
Read: Jeremiah 31:3, Romans 5:8
Pray: Thank God for His love. Ask Him to help you understand His love more than ever before.
Act: Make a list of some of the ways that God has shown you His love.
Psalm 115:3, Jeremiah 32:17
God's Attributes: His Omnipotence (unrestrained power)
When I was five years old, I loved "The Incredible Hulk". I watched the TV show religiously, bought the comic books and pretended to be him when I beat kids up on the playground. Okay, the last part wasn’t true, but the rest was!
I don’t remember what was so great about the Hulk in my 5-year-old mind. Maybe it was his green skin, or his broken speech (“hulk angry, arg”), or maybe it was because
he was unstoppable when he transformed into his muscleself. I remember being bored with the TV show and the comics until Dr. Bruce Banner became the Hulk! That is when the action started! The Hulk was unstoppable! He was pure power that was out of
control, and there was no stopping him.
The Hulk is not the only one who is powerful. What's more, Yahweh (God) is a-l-l powerful! His power is unstoppable and unrestrainable. While the Hulk would eventually calm down or wear out, Yahweh never gets tired! His power knows no limit or end. Yahweh can do anything that He wishes to do. The Hulk doesn’t seem so incredible any more, does he?
Read: Psalm 115:3 and Jeremiah 32:17
Pray: Thank God for his unrestrained power and His wisdom in using it! Ask God to show you where you need to trust in His power. Ask for forgiveness for times when you have doubted His power.
Act: Trust in God’s power! Look for ways to tell others about how powerful he is!
Psalm 139:7, Jeremiah 23:23-24 God's Attributes: His Omnipresence (unrestricted closeness)
Have you ever met someone who has no concept of personal space? You know the type – stands way too close, face is in yours when you talk. If you haven’t yet met someone like this, you will. Oh, you will.
I remember my first encounter with a “close talker.” It was a Sunday morning. He came to shake my hand after the morning service. As he talked, with no personal space between us, a piece of food (I imagined it to be a piece of chicken) flew out of his mouth. The entire world turned to slow motion. I watched the chunk
hurling through the air toward my face. What was I going to do? I did what any man with good reflexes would do. I dodged it! With a quick jerk of my head to the left and a slide of my body to the right (much like a dance move from the early 90’s), I was out of the way. I can still tell you what his breath smelled like.
Closeness can be a bad thing, for sure. But it can also be a really great thing. People in love want to be close to each other. Best friends are comfortable being close to each other. Football players are fine being close to each other for as long as it takes to knock someone down. It’s when we don’t know someone or don’t like someone that we want distance instead of closeness.
Are you close to God? Do you want to be close to God?
Read: Psalm 139:7 and Jeremiah 23:23-24
Pray: Ask God to help you be close to Him. Thank Him for loving and choosing to be close to you.
Act: Look for opportunities to spend time with God throughout your day. This will help you start being close to Him!
1 Corinthians 2:11, Hebrews 4:13
God's Attributes: His Omniscience (unlimited knowledge)
Have you ever wanted to know everything there is to know? I don’t know that I would want to; it sounds a bit overwhelming! There is definitely a lot of stuff we don’t know. Here is the cool thing: God is omniscient. Wow, that is a big word. What does it mean? It means “all-knowing.” It means God has all the wisdom and knowledge there is to be had. It means that He sees all the stuff that we don’t see. He sees the end result and the things that don’t make sense to us. He is the God of unlimited knowledge. This is both a comforting and a humbling thought! We can take comfort in knowing that He knows all things, and that He is in control. But it is also a humbling thought to know that we are loved by a God who knows everything, including us!
Read: 1 Corinthians 2:6-11, Hebrews 4:13
Pray: Spend some time thinking about the unlimited knowledge of God. Worship Him for His greatness and power.
Act: What does it mean in your life that God has unlimited knowledge? Are there areas in your life where you need to trust Him and to realize that He knows what is going on?
Acts 17:24-26, Revelation 19:6
God's Attributes: His Sovereignty (total control)
Control is an illusion.
For some, the feeling of control is their security blanket. Without control, life is unimaginable! How could one survive not knowing that all bases are covered, everything is in its place and that there is a plan in place for anything that comes along?
For others, the feeling of being out of control is like a drug! It’s that dangerous, free, wild feeling that causes your adrenaline to surge through your body.
Depending upon who you are, you might identify yourself closer to one of these extremes. Either extreme is unhealthy, but that’s not the point!
Control is an illusion. No one can create something out of nothing. None of us can number the days of our own life. No one among us can stop the rain from falling or the sun from scorching the earth. The Lord is the only one who has complete control. For God, nothing is unexpected.
Read: Acts 17:24-26; Revelation 19:6
Pray: Ask God to be in control of you life. Ask Him to help you to be satisfied with Him being in control. Thank Him for knowing what’s best and for wanting what’s best for you.
Act: Go throughout your day today asking God what He wants you to do. You’ll be surprised at the adventure!
A name means something. Sure, a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet. But would our perception of it change if it were called “the stinky flower” or “poo poo”? What about your relationship with your neighbor? How would it change if you referred to him as “Mr. Booger Head”? Remember in history class when we learned about Iceland vs. Greenland? Why were their names ironic?
How do you feel when your crush calls you by your name? Or when your parents use your full given-at-birth, printed-on-the-birth-certificate name?
If a name is so important to us, how important do you think it is to God, Creator of all?
When we pray and talk to God, we must set His name apart and hold it as most sacred. Rick Astle says, “In biblical times, once you knew a person’s name, you learned something about them. God has a variety of names, each of which reveals something about His character. In order to consider God as He desires to be known, it is necessary to understand the meaning of His names.”
Day 21Job 28:28, Habakkuk 3:19
Names of God: Adonai, The Lord
Disrespecting God
Up until a few weeks ago, a very large burden made its home on my heart. Prayer became constant, yet almost a burden itself. Years without resolution caused doubts and frustration. I felt I was disrespecting God.
Have you ever went to God, shrugged your shoulders and refused to cry because personal pain didn’t seem to matter? I have. I liken it to being a spoiled brat.
Knowing something needed to change, I began my routine of going to the altar at lunch. Making it a routine was out of necessity. Though the altar itself is only wood, with no special somethings, it is an altar, built for God. And, for a moment during lunch, the altar was the meeting place of me and God. It never was used as a bargaining tool. I never went to the altar expecting circumstances to change or that God would grant me three wishes. Instead, I kneeled at the altar needing to be near my Father. I settled in and was humble before my Lord, Adonai.
How do you approach the names of God? In elementary school, I overheard a boy talking about a girl who used the name “Jesus” as a curse word. Somehow, he thought using the name “Jesus” in that realm was a whole lot worse than using the name “God.” I am saddened by either. Both show disrespect. Both come from mouths of spoiled babes.
To call the Lord “Adonai,” which means “Lord,” is to address God submissively. It shows reverence. And respect. Job used the term. The man who God allowed Satan to test refused to sin against the Lord regardless of circumstances. Habakkuk used the term. A prophet who cried to the Lord only to hear bad news respected God in such a manner that he rejoiced in His name despite other on-goings.
Spend time on your knees, praying to our Lord Adonai. Go to Him with respect, submissiveness and reverence, knowing He is the Master of the Universe, the Creator of All, our Lord.
Genesis 14:19-20 Names of God: El Elyon, The Most High God
Spend a few moments in prayer, centering yourself and focusing on the Lord, who is the Most High God and completely worthy of all of your praise and adoration. Read Genesis 14:17-24.
How many times is God referred to as “The Most High”? What does it mean for God to be “The Most High”?
“El Elyon” or “The Most High God” refers to God’s majesty and sovereignty. To be sovereign is to be above all else and all others in terms of character, importance and excellence. God alone reigns supreme. He alone maintains all power and authority, and He is to be worshiped.
Read Genesis 14:19-20. Melchizedek, priest of God Most High, offers a blessing on Abraham. However, he doesn’t stop there; he goes on to turn the blessing back to God Most High. When was the last time you stopped to bless God?
So often we are quick to ask for God’s blessing, to ask for His provision, His protection, His presence in our lives. Yet we tend to neglect the active choice and sacrifice of blessing God. Take a few moments to bless God. Tell Him how grateful you are for His grace in your life. Tell Him how majestic He is.
Turn to Psalm 92:8. How long will God be on high?
Now read Psalm 78:35. What does The Most High God do for His people?
Find and read Psalm 57:2. What happens when David (the psalmist) cries out to God?
El Elyon functions forever, redeeming His people and fulfilling His promises. How do you see The Most High God working in your life?
Pray, thanking God for His sovereignty and His authority as the Most High God. Ask for His sovereignty to be known in your life.
Psalm 139; 2 Corinthians 5:17
Names of God: Elohim, The Creator God
It is a pretty cool thought to realize that we serve the God who has created everything: the sky, the trees, the birds, the earth and everything in it, including us. One of the names of God is “Elohim,” and it means Creator God. He is the beginning of all things; He spoke all things into being (Read Genesis 1-2!). When we realize that our God has made all things, we can trust Him that He will take care of our lives. God didn’t just create the world and then stop creating. He still desires to create new life, spiritual life, in us! He desires to make all things new, to bring freshness into our lives that sometimes get stale and tired. This is Elohim. The Creator God.
Read: Psalm 139, 2 Corinthians 5:17
Pray: Pray that God would create new and fresh spiritual life in you. Also, pray for family members or friends who need new and fresh spiritual life.
Act: Take 10 minutes today to be still and enjoy God’s creation. Think about the things He has made. Worship Him, because He is Elohim, the Creator God.
Genesis 21:33; Hebrews 6:17
Names of God: El Olam, The Everlasting, Unchanging God
El means “God.”
Olam means “eternity.”
El Olam means “The Eternal God” or “The Everlasting, Unchanging God”
Read: Genesis 21:33; Hebrews 6:17.
In the human experience, we see continual change. From birth until death, our bodies are in a state of continual change. Our mental capabilities are in a constant state of change.
Our emotions are ever changing. The world around us is always changing, shifting, growing, decaying and starting over! The human experience is full of change. Yet, we as humans, often fear change. We tell ourselves that we like things the way we know them to be. HA! What do we know of anything unchanging?
There is only One who is unchanging. One that is eternal. This One is El Olam. The Everlasting, Unchanging God. Because He is eternal, He is dependable. He is trustworthy. We can trust in Him! He will not go away and neither will His salvation!
Pray: Thank God for being eternal and unchanging. Thank Him for his salvation.
Act: Depend on him today. He is not going away!
Psalm 139
Names of God: El Roi, The God Who Sees
Before you begin reading, take a moment to pray. Ask God to help you focus as you dedicate the next several minutes to spending time with Him. Ask Him to open your heart and your eyes to see His truth.
Read Psalm 139:1-6.
What does God know about our daily routine? What does He know about our speech?
Read Psalm 139:7-12.
Where can we go to escape God? What does this tell us about Him?
“El Roi,” The God Who Sees, sees all and knows all.
Nothing is too far for Him to reach, too complex for Him to understand or too overwhelming for Him to conquer. He sees everything you do, knows everything you are, and loves you just the same. How does that impact you?
Read Psalm 139:13-18.
When did El Roi first see you? How did He make you?
Spend some time praising God for His remarkable ability to see all. Thank Him for knowing all about you, and loving you, good, bad and ugly. Confess your temptation to run from Him. Confess your fear of being seen by Him and surrender to His full
knowledge of and love for you.
Psalm 103
Names of God: "El Shaddai," God Almighty, Full of Grace
Knowing God is sort of like looking at a diamond. Have you ever seen a diamond that has been cut for a ring or a necklace? When it is cut, it is cut with many facets. This it what makes it sparkle and reflect light. When we seek to know God, we discover that He has many facets also. This is part of the beauty and awesomeness of God. One of the names and facets of God is “El Shaddai,” which means "God Almighty, Full of Grace." Pretty awesome. Not only is He God Almighty, He is also full of grace. The great, awesome, powerful God we serve is also a God of grace!
Read: Psalm 103
Pray: Pray for your friends who do not know God. Pray that they would see and understand that He is God Almighty, full of grace.
Act: Worship God by writing down some of the facets of His character and what He is like.
Galatians 3:15-29
Names of God: "Jehovah," The God Who Keeps His Covenant
Jehovah (YHWH or Yehweh) means “Lord” or “Master.”
YHWH is the name of God. He revealed His name in Exodus 3. The vowels in the word Yehweh were added for easier pronunciation. Jehovah and Adonai are substituted names to say in place of Yehweh. The Jewish people stopped saying the name Yehweh in the third century A.D. for fear of breaking the commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)
Yehweh created everything that exists. He thought it up and made it happen! Yehweh revealed himself to mankind. Not only that, He made a covenant with man so that we could know how to relate to Him. A covenant is like a legal contract. The covenant that Yehweh and man made was to be kept by both parties. But man continually failed and broke his side of the deal. However, Yehweh upheld His end of the covenant.
Read: Galatians 3:15-29
Jesus is the fulfillment of the covenant! Yehweh did not let us down. He made a way for us to know Him and to have forgiveness for our sin.
Pray: Thank Yehweh for being faithful even when we are not. Confess times when you’ve not been faithful to Him.
Genesis 22
Names of God: "Jehovah Jireh," The Lord Will Provide
Before you read, stop and think about all of the ways the Lord has provided for you in your times of need. Do any specific instances stand out to you?
Take a minute or two and thank God for His provision. Approach Him with gratitude and thanksgiving in your heart.
Read Genesis 22.
What did God tell Abraham to do? Why? How did Abraham respond to God’s testing?
Abraham visits Moriah, as God instructed. Moriah means, “Where The Lord Provides.” How did the Lord provide in this story of Abraham? Before God intervenes with His provision, Abraham acts out of faith and names the site where he stands with Isaac,
“Jehovah Jireh,” meaning “The Lord Will Provide.”
How do you think this incident of testing and then provision on God’s behalf impacted Abraham’s relationship with Him?
How does the Lord’s provision in your life impact your relationship with Him? How quick are you to speak in faith about the Lord’s provision before it happens?
Spend some time in prayer, committing yourself to following the Lord in obedience, no matter the demand. Ask for His strength in acting in faith, as Abraham did.
Leviticus 20:7-8
Names of God: "Jehovah Kadesh," The Righteous One
Have you ever tried really hard to be good? It can be a difficult task! We know something is wrong, and we still do it. We know something is right, but we don’t do it. Why are we like this? It all goes back to the fact that we are flawed, sinful people. But, there is hope! One of the names of God is Jehovah Kadesh, which means, “The Righteous One,” or “The Lord, Our Sanctifier.” Pretty cool! It means that God is one who makes us good, makes us righteous. Yes, we should strive to be good and holy, but ultimately it is God who makes us clean, righteous and pure. God is the one who purifies us from our sin, rebellion and guilt. By dying for our sins, Jesus took our place and became our righteousness. No longer do we have to rely on ourselves to be good; we have a God who is Jehovah Kadesh, the Righteous One.
Read: Leviticus 20:7-8.
Pray: Are there areas of sin or rebellion in your life? Ask God to search your heart. Confess those things and allow God to forgive you, make you new and place His righteousness in you.
Act: Take some extra time today and read Romans 7 and Romans 8.
Psalm 23
Names of God: "Jehovah Raah," The Lord, My Shepherd
Jehovah means “the Existing One “ or “Lord.”
Raah means “shepherd.” A shepherd is someone who feeds or leads his flock to safe places.
The two together mean “The Lord is my Shepherd.” This tells us of the closeness God desires to have with His people.
Read: Psalm 23.
Sheep are not my favorite animals. Think about it. They smell. They are not smart; you cannot train them to do tricks or anything fun like that. They are small. They don’t even fight back if you attack them. Even their voice is lame: “baaaaa.”
There are only two good things about sheep that I can think of: 1)Their wool is a great resource and 2)They know their shepherd’s voice.
Sheep will follow their shepherd anywhere he leads. That’s right, I said, “Leads.” Our typical idea of a shepherd is someone corralling animals into a pen with a dog or stick. That’s not a shepherd; that’s a farmer. To the sheep, a shepherd is a trusted friend. They know his voice and follow him anywhere with complete trust.
How are shepherds different from farmers? The main difference is time. A shepherd stays with the sheep at all times, protecting, feeding and caring for the sheep. A farmer checks in now and then to make sure the sheep are still there and good enough to make money off of. The Lord is a Shepherd -- not a farmer. He is with us always. He takes care of us. Loves us. Looks after us. Do you know His voice? Do you know when He is telling you something? Do you understand when He is telling you to stay away from sin? Do you comprehend how much He loves you?
Pray: Thank God for being a Shepherd not a farmer. Ask Him to help you walk with Him throughout your days. Ask Him to help you know His voice and to follow Him.
Act: Find ways today to spend time with your Shepherd.
Psalm 103:1-14 and Jeremiah 30:17
Names of God: "Jehovah Rapha," The Lord Who Heals
Read Psalm 103:1-14.
What are the five actions David attributes to the Lord in the first five verses of this Psalm? Each of these characteristics is entirely unique to the person of God; no other person or thing in all of creation can perform any of these actions to the extent that the Lord does.
According to this passage, to whom did the Lord make Himself known? How far does the Lord cast away our sins?
Jehovah Rapha, “The Lord Who Heals,” extends His grace and mercy toward His children time and time again, despite our lack of faithfulness to Him. He extends His healing physically and spiritually, restoring health and wellness to those who seek and
trust Him.
Read Jeremiah 30:17.
Do you have wounds that you need to bring before the Lord?
Spend some time asking Him for His healing. Claim Him as Jehovah Rapha in your life. Thank Him for His ability to redeem and restore you. Ask for His forgiveness for the times that you stray from Him. Thank Him for His grace in extending His healing hand to you, despite your flawed nature and unfaithfulness to Him.
For New Testament stories on the Lord’s healing hand, check out Luke 8:40-53 or John 11:1-43.
Psalm 24
Names of God: Jehovah Sabbaoth, The Lord of Hosts
We serve an awesome, powerful God. One of the names of God is Jehovah Sabbaoth, which means “The Lord of Hosts.” He is the ruler of all, the Lord over every nation, every army and every person. The Bible describes Him as being “strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” (Psalm 24:8). Not only does He have power over all earthly things, He rules over all things, both physical and spiritual. It is awesome to know that our God is greater, stronger, more powerful than any other!
Read: Psalm 24.
Pray: Spend some time praising God for His greatness and power. Pray for the areas in your life or a friend’s life where you are depending on God’s power.
Act: Listen to the song “Our God” by Chris Tomlin. As you listen, worship God and think about His greatness.
Judges 6:1-27, Matthew 5:9
Names of God: Jehovah Shalom, The Lord, My Peace
Jehovah means “The Lord.”
Shalom means “My Peace.”
Jehovah Shalom means “The Lord is Peace.”
There is one time in my life that I will always remember as a moment of complete peace. I dare say that it had such a deep impact on my life that it will be etched in my mind forever. It is a moment that caused me to do something that I had only
read about people doing in the Bible, naming a place.
I was in the Andes Mountains outside of a village 9,600 feet above seal level, on a plateau that was between 400 to 1,200 feet in altitude, lower than the all surrounding mountains. In the distance, we could see the white cap of a mountain top that was 13,000 feet. The plateau was mostly flat but had a gently bending hill that leveled off before it completely dropped off 1,000 feet into the valley below.
As I sat in the seemingly endless patch of green grass and clover, I was surrounded in every direction by giant mountains. The gentle breeze came down off the mountain and cooled my skin. All I could hear was the sound of the falling water and the breeze. The sky was bright blue with large, soft, fluffy clouds; the sun was shinning. It was the most peaceful place I’ve ever known. I named that place Mi Paz, or My Peace.
Read Judges 6:1-27.
No matter how peaceful a place is, the peace of God is far greater. Having the peace of God in your life is more important than having a peaceful place to hang out.
Read Matthew 5:9.
God brings peace and so do his people. Where can you bring peace today?
Ezekiel 48:35, Job 38-40:2, Job 42:1-6
God’s Name: Jehovah Shammah, The Lord is There
Last summer, as my parents and I were mowing the yard of the house that would not sell, a Ford Mustang left the road, hit the ditch, flipped end-over-end and came to rest in the spot where my mom had been moments earlier. The misstep occurred, maybe, a yardstick in front of my dad.
The difference between being thankful and having the worst day ever was measured in minutes and feet. I heard the initial impact. I saw the car flip and the driver fall out. I felt my body shake from adrenaline as I dialed 9-1-1.
I know my Savior saved each of us that day. My mood had been foul. My heart hurt from the burden of unending obligation and for prayers that seemingly fell on deaf ears. Yet, earlier that Sunday morning, I reluctantly filled out another yellow prayer card. Rough estimates show it was my hundred-billionth. Anonymously, I wrote my request. I asked the reader to pray that God would sell the house in Nixa. I continued by saying that sometimes it felt as though God had forgotten my family.
One of God’s names is Jehovah Shammah. It is translated as, “The Lord is There.”
How humbling. The Lord roared. And in His love for me, revealed the meaning of Jehovah Shammah. It wasn’t a Bible story. It wasn’t something I arranged. I played no part. The Lord was there.
Has it ever seemed God has forgotten you? Or that your prayer didn’t seem a priority to Him? Read Job 38-40:2. How does the Lord reply to Job’s commentary?
The world is full of sappy singers singing I’ll-Be-There-for-You songs, ex. Bon Jovi, Jackson 5, Mariah Carey, “Friends.” We can sing those songs at the top of our lungs, as many times as we want, to whomever we love or like a lot, but we must agree – we fail in our quest. Regardless of accident or necessity, we miss the mark, just as others have done to us.
Read Job 42:1-6. What is Job’s response? “Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know,” he said. Forever and ever the Lord will be Jehovah Shammah. Do you know Him? Spend time thanking Him for being The Lord (who) is There.
