The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; Psalm 18:46 Blessed – What do you get for a man who has everything? If you thought that was a tough question, try this one: what do you give to a God Who owns everything? David gives us the answer: knee bends. The Hebrew verb is barak. …
and there is no deliverer from My hand Deuteronomy 32:39 Deliverer – I’m not trying to scare you, but you should be scared. The question about God’s hand is really simple. Is His hand an open palm or a closed fist? Does God welcome your attitudes, behaviors and thoughts with open arms, embracing you as…
For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay” Hebrews 10:30 Repay – You won’t hear much about vengeance from the pulpit today. One hundred years ago, you would have been shocked not to hear this word in a sermon. But today we have evolved to a higher moral order where we…
Therefore, I will rather gladly boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may overshadow me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 Boast – First, Paul entreats the Lord. We know what that means. It is parakaleo – to call for aid alongside. In one of those rare occurrences where the word is a synonym for proseuchomai…
“So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:35 Not Forgive – Jesus’ parable of the wicked servant who refused to forgive the little owned to him after the king forgave an enormous debt is a chilling story. It begins with…
“or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” Matthew 26:53 Appeal – The Hebrew vocabulary is rich in words for prayer. Every nuance of our relationship with God seems to find its own special word. So, when…
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices Psalm 16:8-9 Rejoices – If you’re going to make a joyful noise to the Lord, then you might be interested in the context of rejoicing. Every kind of prayer has a context. Sometimes it’s…
Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His footstool; He is holy. Psalm 99:5 Exalt – “See Him high and lifted up.” Yes, songs can also be prayers. The Old Testament sees no distinction between songs of praise and prayers of exultation. We need to blur that distinction too, for prayers that rejoice in…
“Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, and the LORD changed His mind about the misfortune which He had pronounced against them?” Jeremiah 26:19 Entreat – What does it mean to entreat someone? Even in English we have a difficult time expressing this thought succinctly. Certainly the concept involves…
That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving and declare all Your wonders. Psalm 26:7 Thanksgiving – Prayer is designed by God. Does that surprise you? Everything that works according to His purposes is designed by Him, so why should prayer be any different? Did you think that just because prayers come from your…
