Welcome to Week 48 of A 2020 Prayer Life!
What follows is a series of daily meditations and exercises to help us develop our individual prayer lives. This represents a one-day-at-a-time process. Don't short-circuit the process by reading ahead. Simply read and do each day what is offered for that day.
What follows is a series of daily meditations and exercises to help us develop our individual prayer lives. This represents a one-day-at-a-time process. Don't short-circuit the process by reading ahead. Simply read and do each day what is offered for that day.
November 25
As we read the stories of Abraham, we come across this bit of narrative: "He went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD." (Genesis 12:8 NIV)
The expression used in this episode from Abraham's story is not unique to this passage. A number of different characters in a variety of stories are said to "call on the name of the LORD."
In your prayer time, talk to the Lord about that expression and its meaning:
The expression used in this episode from Abraham's story is not unique to this passage. A number of different characters in a variety of stories are said to "call on the name of the LORD."
In your prayer time, talk to the Lord about that expression and its meaning:
- Why does it say that the people called on Your name rather than just saying that they called on You?
- What is personal about calling on Your name?
- What is powerful about calling on Your name?
- What does it look like for me to call on Your name?
November 26
The writer of Proverbs wrote, "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe." (Proverbs 18:10 NKJV)
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about this biblical affirmation. Think about what "a strong tower" meant for the ancient writer. Ask the Lord how His name is similar to that. Ask Him what it means to "run to" His name. Rejoice before Him over the promise that you may run to His name and be safe.
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about this biblical affirmation. Think about what "a strong tower" meant for the ancient writer. Ask the Lord how His name is similar to that. Ask Him what it means to "run to" His name. Rejoice before Him over the promise that you may run to His name and be safe.
November 27
Perhaps in the same spirit as the verse from Proverbs that we considered yesterday, Charles Wesley sang, "and lo, from sin, and grief, and shame, I hide me, Jesus, in thy name."
Talk with the Lord about Wesley's affirmation:
Talk with the Lord about Wesley's affirmation:
- How do I hide myself in Your name?
- How is Your name a respite from sin?
- Why is Your name the place to go in grief?
- In what ways does Your name become the place for me when shame is at issue?
November 28
When Peter and John encountered a crippled beggar by the Temple one day, Peter said to him, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-- walk!" (Acts 3:14 NASB)
Later, when explaining to an astonished crowd what had happened, Peter said, "And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all." (Acts 3:6 NASB)
Eventually, Peter and John were arrested for because of their activities there in the Temple. And when standing before their judges, Peter declared, "Let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-- by this name this man stands here before you in good health." (Acts 4:10 NASB)
Taken together, talk with the Lord about what you learn here about His name. Tell Him what strikes you. Tell Him what confuses you. Tell Him what you wonder. Praise Him for the strength, authority, beauty, and healing revealed here in His name.
Later, when explaining to an astonished crowd what had happened, Peter said, "And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all." (Acts 3:6 NASB)
Eventually, Peter and John were arrested for because of their activities there in the Temple. And when standing before their judges, Peter declared, "Let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-- by this name this man stands here before you in good health." (Acts 4:10 NASB)
Taken together, talk with the Lord about what you learn here about His name. Tell Him what strikes you. Tell Him what confuses you. Tell Him what you wonder. Praise Him for the strength, authority, beauty, and healing revealed here in His name.
November 29
When considering the title "Lord," and specifically the affirmation that Jesus is Lord, we gave some thought to a passage from Paul's letter to the Philippians, to which we want to return again now. Paul wrote, "Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11 NASB)
Talk with the Lord anew about this teaching from Paul. Ask Him what it means for Jesus' name to be "above every name."
Meditate on the fact that it will be "at the name of Jesus" (instead of some other prompt) that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. Consider why those will be the responses to His name.
Then ponder anew what it means to take the Lord's name in vain, as well as what it means to praise the name of the Lord.
Talk with the Lord anew about this teaching from Paul. Ask Him what it means for Jesus' name to be "above every name."
Meditate on the fact that it will be "at the name of Jesus" (instead of some other prompt) that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. Consider why those will be the responses to His name.
Then ponder anew what it means to take the Lord's name in vain, as well as what it means to praise the name of the Lord.
November 30
As we approach the end of Week 48, we want to meditate on a Lydia Baxter poem about the name of Jesus.
Take the name of Jesus with you,
child of sorrow and of woe;
it will joy and comfort give you;
take it then, where'er you go.
Precious name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of heaven.
Precious name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of heaven.
Take the name of Jesus ever,
as a shield from every snare;
if temptations round you gather,
breathe that holy name in prayer.
O the precious name of Jesus!
How it thrills our souls with joy,
when his loving arms receive us,
and his songs our tongues employ!
At the name of Jesus bowing,
falling prostrate at his feet,
King of kings in heaven we'll crown him,
when our journey is complete.
Talk with the Lord about Baxter's lyrics. Tell Him what strikes you. Tell Him what resonates with your heart, your understanding, and your experience. Tell Him what surprises you. And tell Him what you suspect you still need to learn about His name.
Take the name of Jesus with you,
child of sorrow and of woe;
it will joy and comfort give you;
take it then, where'er you go.
Precious name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of heaven.
Precious name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of heaven.
Take the name of Jesus ever,
as a shield from every snare;
if temptations round you gather,
breathe that holy name in prayer.
O the precious name of Jesus!
How it thrills our souls with joy,
when his loving arms receive us,
and his songs our tongues employ!
At the name of Jesus bowing,
falling prostrate at his feet,
King of kings in heaven we'll crown him,
when our journey is complete.
Talk with the Lord about Baxter's lyrics. Tell Him what strikes you. Tell Him what resonates with your heart, your understanding, and your experience. Tell Him what surprises you. And tell Him what you suspect you still need to learn about His name.
December 1
As we conclude Week 48, we want to meditate on some verses from a Charles Wesley hymn about the name of Jesus.
Jesus! the name high over all,
in hell or earth or sky;
angels and mortals prostrate fall,
and devils fear and fly.
Jesus! the name to sinners dear,
the name to sinners given;
it scatters all their guilty fear,
it turns their hell to heaven.
Thee I shall constantly proclaim,
though earth and hell oppose;
bold to confess thy glorious name
before a world of foes.
Happy, if with my latest breath
I may but gasp his name,
preach him to all and cry in death,
"Behold, behold the Lamb!"
Talk with the Lord about Wesley's lyrics. Tell Him what strikes you. Tell Him what resonates with your heart, your understanding, and your experience. Tell Him what surprises you. And tell Him what you suspect you still need to learn about His name.
Jesus! the name high over all,
in hell or earth or sky;
angels and mortals prostrate fall,
and devils fear and fly.
Jesus! the name to sinners dear,
the name to sinners given;
it scatters all their guilty fear,
it turns their hell to heaven.
Thee I shall constantly proclaim,
though earth and hell oppose;
bold to confess thy glorious name
before a world of foes.
Happy, if with my latest breath
I may but gasp his name,
preach him to all and cry in death,
"Behold, behold the Lamb!"
Talk with the Lord about Wesley's lyrics. Tell Him what strikes you. Tell Him what resonates with your heart, your understanding, and your experience. Tell Him what surprises you. And tell Him what you suspect you still need to learn about His name.