Praying For Your Kids Monday
Adonay ~ Lord, Master
I know last week's PYKM was pretty much just me quoting Ann Spangler's book and I'm going to do it again this week! Her stuff is just so good and her stories relating to Scripture are really powerful, more powerful than anything I could come up with on my own in dealing with topics I'm fairly unfamiliar with.
This week's name and prayer is Adonay, which in Hebrew means "Lord", a name that implies relationship: God Is Lord, and we are His servants.
Spangler writes, "As you pray to Adonay, tell Him you want to surrender every aspect of your life to Him. Pray for the grace to become the kind of servant who is quick to do God's will. Knowing Him as your Lord will help you to discover a true sense of purpose".
You are my Lord; I have no good besides You. Psalm 16:2
Later on in the chapter Spangler writes of the story of Nehemiah found in Nehemiah 4:7-8. Nehemiah was helping to rebuild Jerusalem after it had been destroyed by the Babylonians. He used a rally cry to remind a broken and demoralized group of people of who their God was. Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughter, your wives and your homes (Neh. 4:14).
Spangler then writes, "Thousands of years later, we still face forces intent on destroying us--enemies that eat away at our faith, that corrode relationships and that destroy families. Some of us are bone weary from the struggle, about to give up on the spouse who seems distant, the child who has wandered away, the job we hate, or the prayer that has gone so long unanswered. Let the words of Nehemiah sink into the raw places of your heart where disappointment lodges: "Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome." Now is not the time to give up or give in. Remember whose servant you are. Fight in His strength for your children, your marriage, your church. Do whatever it takes for however long it takes, knowing the Lord is with you."
Lord, I pray for _________ and that he will humbly allow You to be his Lord, his Master. I pray that in his submission and servanthood that he will be great and mighty in building Your Kingdom. I pray You would pour Your Spirit out on _________ and that even while he is young he will begin to understand that You are the One who sustains him; that You O God are strong and You O Lord are loving. Amen.
Showing posts with label Praying the Names of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Praying the Names of God. Show all posts
Monday, June 21, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Praying For Your Kids Monday
Yahweh
(yah-WEH)
This week's name of God is jammed packed with information; way too much information for me to provide in one blog post. I really encourage you to buy Ann Spangler's book, if for only for these 14 pages. She goes in to such amazing detail about this name and reading it this morning (after I found my book, of course) I was struck with how complex our God is. We simply cannot fathom with our human minds and hearts His character, His complexity and His awesomeness. This chapter is amazing.
Spangler writes, "The name Yahweh occurs more than 6800 times in the Old Testament. Yahweh is the name that is most closely linked to God's redeeming acts in the history of His chosen people. We know God because of what He has done. When you pray to Yahweh, remember that He is the same God who draws near to save you from the tyranny of sin just as He saved His people from tyrannical slavery in Egypt."
God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD [Yahweh], the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob--has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation." Exodus 3:14-15
Again, in referring to this passage, Spangler writes, "The mysterious self-description in Exodus 3:14, "I AM WHO I AM," may convey the sense that not only God is self-existent but that He is always present with His people. Yahweh is not a God who is remote or all of the One who is always near, intervening in history on behalf of His people. The knowledge of God's proper name implies a covenant relationship. God's covenant name is closely associated with His saving acts in Exodus. The name Yahweh evokes images of God's saving power in the lives of His people."
Read Psalm 103:1-13...where LORD is written you can insert Yahweh and sing this praise to the God who fights for you, who fights for your children. To the God whose name forever means deliverance, freedom, promise and power.
Yahweh, I bow before You for the deliverance and redemption You have brought in my life. You continually part seas in my life and in my heart and bring victory over darkness. I pray for _________ today and I pray You will forgive her sin, heal her disease, redeem her life from the pit. I pray You will crown her with love and compassion and satisfy her desires with good things. Yahweh, You are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love; thank you for blessing _________ and not treating her as her sins deserve. Your love is great for those who fear You. Amen.
Yahweh
(yah-WEH)
This week's name of God is jammed packed with information; way too much information for me to provide in one blog post. I really encourage you to buy Ann Spangler's book, if for only for these 14 pages. She goes in to such amazing detail about this name and reading it this morning (after I found my book, of course) I was struck with how complex our God is. We simply cannot fathom with our human minds and hearts His character, His complexity and His awesomeness. This chapter is amazing.
Spangler writes, "The name Yahweh occurs more than 6800 times in the Old Testament. Yahweh is the name that is most closely linked to God's redeeming acts in the history of His chosen people. We know God because of what He has done. When you pray to Yahweh, remember that He is the same God who draws near to save you from the tyranny of sin just as He saved His people from tyrannical slavery in Egypt."
God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD [Yahweh], the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob--has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation." Exodus 3:14-15
Again, in referring to this passage, Spangler writes, "The mysterious self-description in Exodus 3:14, "I AM WHO I AM," may convey the sense that not only God is self-existent but that He is always present with His people. Yahweh is not a God who is remote or all of the One who is always near, intervening in history on behalf of His people. The knowledge of God's proper name implies a covenant relationship. God's covenant name is closely associated with His saving acts in Exodus. The name Yahweh evokes images of God's saving power in the lives of His people."
Read Psalm 103:1-13...where LORD is written you can insert Yahweh and sing this praise to the God who fights for you, who fights for your children. To the God whose name forever means deliverance, freedom, promise and power.
Yahweh, I bow before You for the deliverance and redemption You have brought in my life. You continually part seas in my life and in my heart and bring victory over darkness. I pray for _________ today and I pray You will forgive her sin, heal her disease, redeem her life from the pit. I pray You will crown her with love and compassion and satisfy her desires with good things. Yahweh, You are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love; thank you for blessing _________ and not treating her as her sins deserve. Your love is great for those who fear You. Amen.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Praying for Your Kids Monday
Yahweh Yireh ~ The Lord Will Provide
(yah-WEH yir-EH)
Ann Spangler writes of Yahweh Yireh, "The Hebrew raah (RA-ah, from which yireh is derived) means "to see". In this case [Genesis 22:13-14], it is translated as "provide". Since God sees the future as well as the past and present, He is able to anticipate and provide for what is needed. When you pray to Yahweh Yireh, you are praying to the God who sees the situation beforehand and is able to provide for your needs".
God first revealed this name to Abraham in Genesis when He provided a ran for Abraham to sacrifice after Abraham had not withheld anything, even his own son, from God.
I remember reading this story after becoming a mother. I heard the story hundreds of times before but my mother's heart came in to play while reading it this time. I imagined Abraham's heart as he headed up the mountain to sacrifice his only son as God had asked of him. Had he told Sarah? Did she know that this was no ordinary trip and that her son would not be returning with his father? I simply cannot fathom how Abraham, and possibly Sarah, felt as God called them to sacrifice their only son, the child they had prayed and prayed for.
In Spangler's book she asks the reader to put themselves in the place of God in this story, to imagine how happy it must have made Him to provide the ram so that Abraham wouldn't have to sacrifice his son. I imagine that as pleased as He was with Abraham's obedience His heart ached looking in to the future and knowing that one day He would provide His own Son as the ransom for the whole world.
God's grace is never cheap. Through the blood of His only Son He has provided for every spiritual, material and emotional need we, or our children, will ever need. May we never take His ultimate sacrifice for granted, may our children always know His redemption was bought with a price and long to obey Him without compromise.
Yahweh Yireh, thank You for seeing my children and their circumstances long before they ever will and long before they can understand. Yahweh Yireh, You long to bless __________ for his obedience to You. I pray You will pour Your Spirit out on him and he will never forget that Your grace isn't cheap. I pray You will help __________ to obey without hesitation and without compromise. Amen.
Yahweh Yireh ~ The Lord Will Provide
(yah-WEH yir-EH)
Ann Spangler writes of Yahweh Yireh, "The Hebrew raah (RA-ah, from which yireh is derived) means "to see". In this case [Genesis 22:13-14], it is translated as "provide". Since God sees the future as well as the past and present, He is able to anticipate and provide for what is needed. When you pray to Yahweh Yireh, you are praying to the God who sees the situation beforehand and is able to provide for your needs".
God first revealed this name to Abraham in Genesis when He provided a ran for Abraham to sacrifice after Abraham had not withheld anything, even his own son, from God.
I remember reading this story after becoming a mother. I heard the story hundreds of times before but my mother's heart came in to play while reading it this time. I imagined Abraham's heart as he headed up the mountain to sacrifice his only son as God had asked of him. Had he told Sarah? Did she know that this was no ordinary trip and that her son would not be returning with his father? I simply cannot fathom how Abraham, and possibly Sarah, felt as God called them to sacrifice their only son, the child they had prayed and prayed for.
In Spangler's book she asks the reader to put themselves in the place of God in this story, to imagine how happy it must have made Him to provide the ram so that Abraham wouldn't have to sacrifice his son. I imagine that as pleased as He was with Abraham's obedience His heart ached looking in to the future and knowing that one day He would provide His own Son as the ransom for the whole world.
God's grace is never cheap. Through the blood of His only Son He has provided for every spiritual, material and emotional need we, or our children, will ever need. May we never take His ultimate sacrifice for granted, may our children always know His redemption was bought with a price and long to obey Him without compromise.
Yahweh Yireh, thank You for seeing my children and their circumstances long before they ever will and long before they can understand. Yahweh Yireh, You long to bless __________ for his obedience to You. I pray You will pour Your Spirit out on him and he will never forget that Your grace isn't cheap. I pray You will help __________ to obey without hesitation and without compromise. Amen.
Monday, May 24, 2010
PYKM
El-Olam ~ The Everlasting or Eternal God
(EL o-LAM)
This name of God which occurs only four times in Hebrew Scriptures is translated as "eternal", "everlasting", "forever" or "ancient". The title is referring to God; His laws, promises and covenant and is first found In Genesis 21:32-33.
In the book which we are going through, Praying the Names of God, Spangler writes, "El Olam is the Hebrew name for the God who has no beginning and no end, the God for whom a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. His plans stand firm forever...When you pray to El Olam, you are praying to the God whose Son is called the Alpha and Omega. He is the God whose love endures forever".
It seems we are all getting older.
Hot Jeff turned 40 last October and I found my first grey hair a few weeks ago. Despite my feeble attempts to slow time down (and cover it up) it seems to rage on.
I see the passage of time most clearly in my kids. Each day Samuel seems a little taller and Emily astounds me with her clear sentences. Perhaps its the hardest watching Emily grow so quickly because she's the baby; she's the one who should stay little because she is the last one.
The feeling of immortality I once held with pride fades with each yearly rendition of "Happy Birthday" and I know that while I may not be old, I am not getting any younger. My children, while always younger than me, are getting older too. Right now their worries are whether or not I will make them eat their vegetables or not but soon enough they will be worrying about grades, peers, sports and identity. Its not easy growing up and growing older.
What I learn from this name of God is though I grow older God remains the same. He is not immature from youth; He is not slower because of age. His attention is not short from a wrestling to be outside playing; He is not slumbering in the afternoon because of an achy, arthritic body. He increases my strength and renews my spirit because He has eternal vitality.
El Olam, Your promises never fail us and You have set eternity in the heart of _________. I pray that as she grows You will deepen her hope of heaven and give her a burning desire to know Your Son, the Alpha and Omega, as her Savior and Redeemer. I pray _________ will find her strength in You, Who does not grow tired or weary and Who increases the power of the weak. Amen.
El-Olam ~ The Everlasting or Eternal God
(EL o-LAM)
This name of God which occurs only four times in Hebrew Scriptures is translated as "eternal", "everlasting", "forever" or "ancient". The title is referring to God; His laws, promises and covenant and is first found In Genesis 21:32-33.
In the book which we are going through, Praying the Names of God, Spangler writes, "El Olam is the Hebrew name for the God who has no beginning and no end, the God for whom a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. His plans stand firm forever...When you pray to El Olam, you are praying to the God whose Son is called the Alpha and Omega. He is the God whose love endures forever".
It seems we are all getting older.
Hot Jeff turned 40 last October and I found my first grey hair a few weeks ago. Despite my feeble attempts to slow time down (and cover it up) it seems to rage on.
I see the passage of time most clearly in my kids. Each day Samuel seems a little taller and Emily astounds me with her clear sentences. Perhaps its the hardest watching Emily grow so quickly because she's the baby; she's the one who should stay little because she is the last one.
The feeling of immortality I once held with pride fades with each yearly rendition of "Happy Birthday" and I know that while I may not be old, I am not getting any younger. My children, while always younger than me, are getting older too. Right now their worries are whether or not I will make them eat their vegetables or not but soon enough they will be worrying about grades, peers, sports and identity. Its not easy growing up and growing older.
What I learn from this name of God is though I grow older God remains the same. He is not immature from youth; He is not slower because of age. His attention is not short from a wrestling to be outside playing; He is not slumbering in the afternoon because of an achy, arthritic body. He increases my strength and renews my spirit because He has eternal vitality.
El Olam, Your promises never fail us and You have set eternity in the heart of _________. I pray that as she grows You will deepen her hope of heaven and give her a burning desire to know Your Son, the Alpha and Omega, as her Savior and Redeemer. I pray _________ will find her strength in You, Who does not grow tired or weary and Who increases the power of the weak. Amen.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Praying For Your Kids Monday
El Shadday ~ God Almighty
(EL shad-DAI)
The brilliant Ann Spangler writes in her book "Praying the Names of God" that El Shadday was the name God revealed Himself through when He made His covenant with Abram and Abram's descendants. Spangler writes, "When we pray to El Shadday, we invoke the name of the One for whom nothing is impossible".
My kids got to see/hear firsthand that the God they pray to is the One for whom nothing is impossible. For over a year Samuel has faithfully prayed for our dear Pastor John who fell deathly ill to a rare illness. As Emily has gotten older and begun praying at night as well she too started praying daily for Pastor John. Specifically we prayed for Pastor John to regain his ability to swallow (this was after months of praying that he would just survive. It is a long story and I'm not doing it justice--to read more of John's incredible journey click here). Anyway, two weeks ago Shannon called with the news she had just received from her mother, who works with John, that John's swallowing function had returned. Tears streamed down my face as Shannon gave me the few details she had and Jeff and the kids circled around me anxious to know what I was laughing and crying about.
Immediately after hanging up with Shannon I practically screamed, "Pastor John swallowed today! Pastor John ate yogurt today!" All four of us started praising Jesus, Jeff and I were crying, and Samuel was saying, "God answered my prayer".
Almost every night in the two weeks to follow the kids and I have talked about how God answers our prayers. It may take longer than we want or expect and look different than we planned, but God hears us, loves us and answers our prayers. He is El Shadday and nothing is impossible with Him.
But with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26
El Shadday, help __________ to know You as his All-Powerful God, the One who is able to sustain and bless him, to fulfill every promise You make to him. Lord, will You increase his awe of You and of Your power so that, like Abraham, he may follow You faithfully, always believing You are enough for him. Amen. prayer from Ann Spangler's book
*practical tip
This week while talking to your kids about El Shadday sing with them "My God Is So Big". Don't know it? Click here for lyrics and here for hand motions.
El Shadday ~ God Almighty
(EL shad-DAI)
The brilliant Ann Spangler writes in her book "Praying the Names of God" that El Shadday was the name God revealed Himself through when He made His covenant with Abram and Abram's descendants. Spangler writes, "When we pray to El Shadday, we invoke the name of the One for whom nothing is impossible".
My kids got to see/hear firsthand that the God they pray to is the One for whom nothing is impossible. For over a year Samuel has faithfully prayed for our dear Pastor John who fell deathly ill to a rare illness. As Emily has gotten older and begun praying at night as well she too started praying daily for Pastor John. Specifically we prayed for Pastor John to regain his ability to swallow (this was after months of praying that he would just survive. It is a long story and I'm not doing it justice--to read more of John's incredible journey click here). Anyway, two weeks ago Shannon called with the news she had just received from her mother, who works with John, that John's swallowing function had returned. Tears streamed down my face as Shannon gave me the few details she had and Jeff and the kids circled around me anxious to know what I was laughing and crying about.
Immediately after hanging up with Shannon I practically screamed, "Pastor John swallowed today! Pastor John ate yogurt today!" All four of us started praising Jesus, Jeff and I were crying, and Samuel was saying, "God answered my prayer".
Almost every night in the two weeks to follow the kids and I have talked about how God answers our prayers. It may take longer than we want or expect and look different than we planned, but God hears us, loves us and answers our prayers. He is El Shadday and nothing is impossible with Him.
But with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26
El Shadday, help __________ to know You as his All-Powerful God, the One who is able to sustain and bless him, to fulfill every promise You make to him. Lord, will You increase his awe of You and of Your power so that, like Abraham, he may follow You faithfully, always believing You are enough for him. Amen. prayer from Ann Spangler's book
*practical tip
This week while talking to your kids about El Shadday sing with them "My God Is So Big". Don't know it? Click here for lyrics and here for hand motions.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Praying For Your Kids Monday
El-Roi, The God Who Sees
Ann Spangler notes in her book that El Roi is only used one time in Scripture when Hagar gave this name to God when He saw her alone, afraid, pregnant and on the run. In His loving kindness, He saw her in the midst of her pain and gave her a promise she could find hope in.
She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me." Genesis 16:13
What a comfort to our children when we remind them that they have a God who sees them. The God they pray to is not dead. He is not a statue who cannot be moved by prayers and tears. He is a loving Father Who sees them.
Like most kids his age, Samuel has started to be nervous at bedtime. "Scared" is a little too strong but he definitely likes a night light and has found great comfort in knowing he has angels sent by God to protect him. One night before bed I read Psalm 121 to him and reminded him that when he is sleeping, even when Mommy and Daddy are sleeping, God NEVER sleeps. God is always watching over Samuel. Tonight when Samuel goes to bed I will teach him this name of God and he will learn to call upon it in his time of fear. The God Samuel serves is alive, he knows the number or hairs on his head, he has stored up his tears in a bottle, he has plans for him to prosper. He is the God who sees him.
El Roi, You are the God who sees me. You are the God who sees __________. I pray that she will grow secure in the Truth that You see her, that You have plans for her, that even as You care for the birds of the air You surely will care for her. Although she is young, I pray Your Spirit will guide _________ so that she can rest assured that You never slumber nor sleep but that You see her and watch over her and have given Your Son so that she may have eternal life. Amen.
El-Roi, The God Who Sees
Ann Spangler notes in her book that El Roi is only used one time in Scripture when Hagar gave this name to God when He saw her alone, afraid, pregnant and on the run. In His loving kindness, He saw her in the midst of her pain and gave her a promise she could find hope in.
She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me." Genesis 16:13
What a comfort to our children when we remind them that they have a God who sees them. The God they pray to is not dead. He is not a statue who cannot be moved by prayers and tears. He is a loving Father Who sees them.
Like most kids his age, Samuel has started to be nervous at bedtime. "Scared" is a little too strong but he definitely likes a night light and has found great comfort in knowing he has angels sent by God to protect him. One night before bed I read Psalm 121 to him and reminded him that when he is sleeping, even when Mommy and Daddy are sleeping, God NEVER sleeps. God is always watching over Samuel. Tonight when Samuel goes to bed I will teach him this name of God and he will learn to call upon it in his time of fear. The God Samuel serves is alive, he knows the number or hairs on his head, he has stored up his tears in a bottle, he has plans for him to prosper. He is the God who sees him.
El Roi, You are the God who sees me. You are the God who sees __________. I pray that she will grow secure in the Truth that You see her, that You have plans for her, that even as You care for the birds of the air You surely will care for her. Although she is young, I pray Your Spirit will guide _________ so that she can rest assured that You never slumber nor sleep but that You see her and watch over her and have given Your Son so that she may have eternal life. Amen.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Praying for Your Kids Monday
Welcome Back PYKM; I've Missed You!
Sitting down to write PYKM tonight (Sunday) is like sitting down to write an email to an old friend. I'm so excited to be doing it again and excited to share what God has put on my heart to write about over the coming weeks.
A while back my church did a sermon series and Bible study on the names of God. It was one of my favorite series we've done and I bought a companion book, "Praying the Names of God" by Ann Spangler but haven't had the chance to go through it yet as I have about 86,000 other books I'm reading right now. (And it is YOUR LUCKY DAY because you can buy the book through bookschristian.com; a fine online establishment who just so happens to have great taste and has chosen to advertise on this blog! Click here to buy the book and go deeper in our study and prayers for our kids.)
Ok, so shameless promotion aside, we are going to be praying the names of God for our kids for several months. Not only do I believe these prayers will have meaning and power but I hope we will gain a deeper understanding of who God is, how He loves us and our kids and how praying His name releases power from heaven. I trust that as we learn new things about the names and character of God He will show you, on a very personal level, how to pray His name over your children.
May He be glorified.
Elohim (e-lo-HEEM), God Mighty Creator
Elohim is the Hebrew word for God that appears in the very first sentence of the Bible and more than 2500 times throughout. It is the plural form of El and emphasizes the majesty of the One, true God. Spangler writes, "When we pray to Elohim, we remember that He is the One who began it all, creating heavens and earth and separating light from darkness, water from dry land, night from day...this ancient name for God contains [His] authority and sovereignty".
When I think of Elohim in relation to our children I think of what my friend Deb has reminded me on various occasions when I am whining desperately that my kids are trying to kill me or that I'm not "a good mom" or blah, blah, blah. Deb gently reminds me that God is sovereign and gave me my children at this exact time in history because I am exactly what they need and they are exactly what I need. No one can be a better mother to Samuel or Emily than I can, if they could, He would have given them to that person. God, Elohim, loves Samuel and Emily even more than I do and has a perfect plan for their lives. I am included in that plan, with all my quirks and craziness. He is sovereign. He created the heavens and the earth, created man in His image and ordained me as the mother of these two precious children. It is my job to submit to His plan, seek His guidance and humbly be used to raise my kids to love and serve the Mighty Creator.
Because God made humans in his image reflecting God's very nature. You're here to bear fruit, reproduce, lavish life on the Earth, live bountifully!" Genesis 9:6, The Message
Elohim, Mighty Creator...today You have gently reminded me that You are sovereign. You have made everything out of nothing, light out of darkness, life out of breath. You have called it good. Elohim, You have made the life of _______ sacred; he is created in Your image. I pray that You would teach ______ that he is has one purpose and that is to glorify You and I pray that as he grows he will have a deep love, respect and gratitude for Your authority and Supreme power. Amen.
Welcome Back PYKM; I've Missed You!
Sitting down to write PYKM tonight (Sunday) is like sitting down to write an email to an old friend. I'm so excited to be doing it again and excited to share what God has put on my heart to write about over the coming weeks.
A while back my church did a sermon series and Bible study on the names of God. It was one of my favorite series we've done and I bought a companion book, "Praying the Names of God" by Ann Spangler but haven't had the chance to go through it yet as I have about 86,000 other books I'm reading right now. (And it is YOUR LUCKY DAY because you can buy the book through bookschristian.com; a fine online establishment who just so happens to have great taste and has chosen to advertise on this blog! Click here to buy the book and go deeper in our study and prayers for our kids.)
Ok, so shameless promotion aside, we are going to be praying the names of God for our kids for several months. Not only do I believe these prayers will have meaning and power but I hope we will gain a deeper understanding of who God is, how He loves us and our kids and how praying His name releases power from heaven. I trust that as we learn new things about the names and character of God He will show you, on a very personal level, how to pray His name over your children.
May He be glorified.
Elohim (e-lo-HEEM), God Mighty Creator
Elohim is the Hebrew word for God that appears in the very first sentence of the Bible and more than 2500 times throughout. It is the plural form of El and emphasizes the majesty of the One, true God. Spangler writes, "When we pray to Elohim, we remember that He is the One who began it all, creating heavens and earth and separating light from darkness, water from dry land, night from day...this ancient name for God contains [His] authority and sovereignty".
When I think of Elohim in relation to our children I think of what my friend Deb has reminded me on various occasions when I am whining desperately that my kids are trying to kill me or that I'm not "a good mom" or blah, blah, blah. Deb gently reminds me that God is sovereign and gave me my children at this exact time in history because I am exactly what they need and they are exactly what I need. No one can be a better mother to Samuel or Emily than I can, if they could, He would have given them to that person. God, Elohim, loves Samuel and Emily even more than I do and has a perfect plan for their lives. I am included in that plan, with all my quirks and craziness. He is sovereign. He created the heavens and the earth, created man in His image and ordained me as the mother of these two precious children. It is my job to submit to His plan, seek His guidance and humbly be used to raise my kids to love and serve the Mighty Creator.
Because God made humans in his image reflecting God's very nature. You're here to bear fruit, reproduce, lavish life on the Earth, live bountifully!" Genesis 9:6, The Message
Elohim, Mighty Creator...today You have gently reminded me that You are sovereign. You have made everything out of nothing, light out of darkness, life out of breath. You have called it good. Elohim, You have made the life of _______ sacred; he is created in Your image. I pray that You would teach ______ that he is has one purpose and that is to glorify You and I pray that as he grows he will have a deep love, respect and gratitude for Your authority and Supreme power. Amen.
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