Praying the Names of God - July 4
From Praying the Names of God Week Three, Day Five
The Name
God revealed himself as El Shadday, God Almighty, to Abram and told him of the everlasting covenant he was establishing with him and with his descendants. Until the time of Moses, when another divine name was revealed, the patriarchs considered El Shadday the covenant name of God. When we pray to El Shadday, we invoke the name of the one for whom nothing is impossible.
Key Scripture
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers." (Genesis 17:1-2)
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Friday
PROMISES ASSOCIATED WITH GOD'S NAME
What if God were good but weak? Beautiful but powerless? He might want to bless us but be unable to. Wouldn't this God of good intentions be a bit pathetic? Would any of us fall on our faces before him like Abraham did when God revealed himself as El Shadday? Would we even bother to pray to such a God?
Abraham and his family were surrounded by people who believed in such gods—brittle, silent idols made of wood and stone. Fortunately for him and for us, our God is living and powerful, a God who is able to keep every promise he makes. Though God blessed Abraham with specific promises for his life, we share in those promises by virtue of being sons and daughters of Abraham through the gift of faith.
Promises in Scripture
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous run to it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10)
I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you; I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12:2-3)
I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. (Genesis 22:17)
Continued Prayer and Praise
Consider whether the Almighty is on your side. (2 Samuel 5:9-10) Trust in the Almighty. (Psalm 84) Return to the Almighty, and he will return to you. (Zechariah 1:2-3)
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Meet your spiritual ancestors as they really were: Less Than Perfect: Broken Men and Women of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them.
