ABOUNDING ADORATION!

ADORE HIM! Revere. Cherish. Esteem. Exalt. Glorify. Honor.

Thanks to Lynn T, our Colorful Day assistant, for sharing these aspects of the many Names of God....all of which honor His hallowed name,

Such an appropriate week to share, a prayer which overflows with His many names, especially with those who attended the "Names of God" workshop at Colorful Day. Adoration Galore in '24.

WORD to SWORD

Word to sword....what makes the difference? Just one letter.

Not an orthographic neighbor which substitutes one letter but the addition of a letter known as affix.....a letter placed at the beginning (pre-fix) or ending (suffix) of a root word to modify the meaning.

Many wordsmith's are crossword, worldle or other word game gurus as words, anything linguistic,  are "their thing." 

Often an additional one letter can change the meaning entirely. 

Think, cab to scab

On the other hand, one letter emphasizing the word by giving it a name.

God's "word" becomes "sword" of the spirit. (Ephesians 6:17)

This past week as I was continuing my meditation on the Lord's Prayer from Matthew 6, I saw the word evil in a new light---or more like darkness.

Evil has a name. Add a d. Evil's name is devil. 

Be watchful. The devil is an adversary. The devil prowls. The devil seeks to devour. Resist him. He is not good.(1 Peter 5:8-9)

Who is GOOD? Drop an O to know.

GOD is good. He will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you through His Word. (1 Peter 5:10)

Against the evil wiles of the devil,....

use God's Word as your Sword of defense! 

THE LORD'S PRAYER #2

Our Father which art in heaven.....HALLOWED BE THY NAME! That must be the KJV because those word's came to mind as I recited the Lord's Prayer. NET, which Stacy Tyson quotes, translates "Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored."(NET) Holy. (NLV) Sanctified (TLV)P. D. Tripp says this second part of Jesus' model prayer frames everything that prayer is about.....as it reveals how precious the hallowed grace of Jesus is. (New Morning Mercies, May 5)

Tyson also states "be honored" more literally translates in modern terms as, "Let your name be sanctified." (The Best Times, March 2023)

Sanctified? 

Holy and unique. God worthy of reverential respect and awe as there is none like Him. (Psalm 86:8-9)

These days our prayers to our revered, glorified, worthy of praise Lord are the only Hope for the sanctity of our nation and the world.

THE LORD'S PRAYER!

This prayer, from Matthew 6:9-13 is traditionally known as "The Lord's Prayer." Stacy Tyson, Director of Truth Seekers Fellowship, also sees  "The Disciples" Prayer" as an appropriate title. Tyson looks at the pronoun "Our" as a reminder that believers are not alone. We as members of the household of faith are apart of the family of God.

Not only that, but Jesus invites us to address the One True God as Father. An invitation into relationship with Him. Our Heavenly Father.

Paul David Tripp also sees this opening line of Jesus's model prayer as as glorious and encouraging way to begin our prayers (New Morning Mercies, May 4) 

A beautiful prayer beginning for a child of God---to address the Lord as the One who is our Father.

BEDTIME PRAYERS

4/18/12 Remember those first prayers you uttered? Mine were:

Now I lay me down to sleep.

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

If I should die, before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.

God bless Mother, Daddy, Bobby, Buddy, myself and everyone in the whole-wide world. A-men!

(I probably added Buster our dog, when he became a family member.)

 Scripted? Yes. Ineffectual? Not necessarily. Scripted prayers can be an effective beginning point--- giving us words when we have no words. Whether it’s age or inability to form deep cries of our heart, “script” can help. Scripture being just that---a great guide for praying. All ready written out in God’s word for our use---to encourage us in developing a deep prayer life.

For me, praying scripture is different from a prayer “model” as scripture is often used to incorporate verses or an entire psalm within my own prayers.

The Lord’s Prayer is a model. We’re even instructed to “model” that in Matthew 6:9. “This, then, is how you should pray:”

Pray over one’s infant who’s lying in a crib or “sitting” on a grandparent’s bed, before he/she can even talk is important---soothing for both baby and adult. 

Whereas “Now I lay me down to sleep” gets a toddler started, the Lord’s Prayer becomes an outline for “prayer” for the older set, though possibly used more often in group settings, than at bedtime.

As a youngster, my “scripted” prayers were at mealtimes (“saying grace”) and my bedtime prayers were at night. Nowadays, though, as I pray before falling asleep, it’s more of a thankful reflection of my day. My “biggie” more consistent bedtime prayers occur in the morning before my feet even hit the floor.

Bedtime prayers have no prescribed words, as they vary with each pray-er. Nor is there a prescribed time. The important factor is having bedtime prayers. How will our children and grandchildren ever learn if we don’t join them bedside and show the way!