Psalm 23:5 tells us the Lord prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. What are you partaking of? Who or what are you entertaining? Let this thought sink to the depths of your soul, Jesus always prayed and gave offerings of praise and thanksgiving to the One He revered and made known to the world as our heavenly Father, so we too could fall down and pay homage and adoration and worship the One He introduced to us as our heavenly Father. This devotional “A Heartfelt Plea,” by Max Lucado addresses this truth:
When my eldest daughter was 13, she flubbed her piano piece at a recital. The silence in the auditorium was broken only by the pounding of her parents’ hearts. She hurried off the stage, threw her arms around me and buried her face in my shirt. “Oh, Daddy.” That was enough for me. At that moment I’d have given her the moon, and all she said was, “Oh, Daddy.”
Prayer starts here. Prayer begins with an honest, heartfelt, “Oh Daddy!” Jesus invites us to approach God the way a child approaches his or her daddy.
Here’s my challenge for you: every day for four weeks, pray four minutes. Then get ready to connect with God like never before.
We have been given the gift of free will. It is our choice to pray the Psalms, to study Proverbs, to believe the Good News of Peace with God through His precious Son, Christ Jesus, Who gave us the perfect prayer, every line reveals our glorious Daddy:
Our Father – Abba – El Hay (Khah-ee) – The Living God
This is how you will know the living God is among you and that He will certainly drive out before you shame and humiliation, terror and fear, discouragement and despair, fleshly desires, disunity and division, confusion and doubt, all charges against you (Joshua 3:10), He will tread our sins underfoot, and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea because He has compassion on us (Micah 7:19)
Who art in Heaven – El Bethel – God of the House of God
Heaven is God’s throne, and the earth is His footstool (Isaiah 66:1). The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain Him (1 Kings 8:27). How great is God – beyond our understanding (Job 36:26). The high and lofty One Who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this: I live in that high and holy place where those with contrite, humble spirits dwell; and I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts (Isaiah 57:15)
Hallowed Be Thy Name – Elohim Kedoshim – Holy God
Our God is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made (Psalm 145:17). He is fair in everything He does and full of kindness. He is close to all who call on Him sincerely. He fulfills the desires of those who reverence and trust Him. He hears our cries for help and rescues us. He protects all those who love Him (Psalm 145:17). For the Word of God is perfect, reviving the soul. His teachings are trustworthy, making people wise (Psalm 19:17). *The seraphs call to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the our Sovereign God, the whole earth is full of His glory,” Isaiah 6:2.
Thy Kingdom Come – EL Olam – God of Eternity
The Eternal God – Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God (Psalm 90:2). The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary (Isaiah 40:28). He is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). The Alpha and Omega, Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8). Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17).
Thy Will Be Done – El Shaddai – The Almighty, All Sufficient God
I know that our God can do all things, no plan of His can be thwarted (Job 42:2). All things are possible with God (Mark 10:27). The Sovereign Lord made the heavens and the earth by His great power and out-stretched arm. Nothing is too hard for Him (Jeremiah 32:17). Who says, “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like Me. Declaring from ancient times things that are not yet done. Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’” Isaiah 46:9.
On Earth – El Roi – The God that Sees Me
God’s eyes are on the ways of men; He sees their every step. There is no dark place, no deep shadow, where anyone can hide (Job 34:21). Nothing in all creation is hidden from His sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account. The Word of God, Christ Jesus, is living and active. The Truth is sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating to divide soul and spirit; judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). He searches us and He knows us. Before a word is on our tongue He knows it completely (Psalm 139:1).
As It Is In Heaven – El Hakabodh (He-kaw-bode) – the God of Glory
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands (Psalm 19:10). Yours, O God, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. We give You thanks and praise Your glorious name (1 Chronicles 29:11).
Give Us Our Daily Bread – El Hayyay (Khaw-yaw) – God Of My Life
The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer is unto the God of my life (Psalm 42:8). His eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in His book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:16). The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life (Job 33:4). Yes, the Lord is my Light and my Salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1).
Forgive Our Trespasses – Elohe Chaseddi (Kawseddi) – The God of My Mercy
Our God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. When I turned to Him, He bestowed mercy on me and granted His strength and salvation on His servant. You, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me (Psalm 86:15). For the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness. The Lord is my portion; I will wait on and for Him (Lamentations (3:22). Surely goodness, mercy and His unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6).
Help Us To Forgive Those Who Have Trespassed Against Us – Elohim Ozer (Aw-zar) Li – God My Helper
My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare (Psalm 25:15). For the fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe (Proverbs 29:25), My God is with me like a mighty warrior; so, my persecutors will stumble and not prevail (Jeremiah 20:11). I can say with confidence, the Lord is my help; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Hebrews 13:6). Yes, my soul finds rest in God alone, my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my Rock and my Salvation, He is my Fortress, I will never be shaken (Psalm 62:1). For the Lord goes before me and the God of Israel is my rear guard (Isaiah 52:12). The One Who goes with me to fight for me against my enemies to give me victory (Deuteronomy 2:4).
Lead Us Not Into Temptation – El Gibbor – Mighty God
Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. So, put on the full armor of God, for when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth around your waist, the breastplate of righteousness in place, with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Take up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Be alert and self-controlled. (Ephesians 6:10).
Deliver Us From Evil – Elohe Tsadeki (Tsaw-dak) – God of My Righteousness
In You, O Lord, do I put my trust, let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Your righteousness (Psalm 31:1). Guard my life, for I am devoted to You. You are my God, my trust is in You. Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, abundant in mercy and lovingkindness to all who call upon You (Psalm 86:2). I have been set free under God’s grace and mercy! Sin shall not have dominion over me, for I am no longer tied to the law where sin enslaves me (Romans 6:14).
For Thine Is The Kingdom – Jehovah El Elohim – The Lord God of Gods
The Lord our God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome (Deuteronomy 10:17). His is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is His. O Lord, Yours is the kingdom and You are exalted as Head above all (1 Chronicles 29:11). The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). And it is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom (Luke 12:32).
And The Power – Eli Malekhi – God My King
You are my King, O God, Who ordains victories for His people (Psalm 44:4). Yes, God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth (Psalm 74:12). He will say to those on His right, :Come, you who are blessed by My Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world (Matthew 25:34). I will extol You, my God, O King, and bless Your name forever and ever (Psalm 145:1).
And The Glory – El Simchath (sim-khaw) Gili (geel) – God My Exceeding Joy
God my joy and my delight, sends forth His Light and His Truth to guide me (Psalm 43:3), to show me the path of life. For in His presence is fullness of joy, at His right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). My heavenly Father has enriched my life with eternal blessings and given me the joy of His presence. I trust His grace and mercy will keep me from stumbling, for I depend upon the steadfast love of the God Who is above all gods (Psalm 21:6).
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, as you take every thought captive to make it obedient to God’s Word, demolishing any argument and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, Who raises us up for this very purpose, that He might show you His power and that His name might be proclaimed in all the earth (Exodus 9:16), as He fills you to overflowing with hope by the power of Holy Spirit (Roman. 15:13).
Father, consider our threats
And enable Your servants to speak Your Word
With great boldness.
Stretch out Your hand, Father, to heal
And perform miraculous signs and wonders
Through the name of Your holy and precious
Servant Jesus
Acts 4:29