Welcome to Week 49 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.
December 2
Matthew's account of the Christmas story includes this: "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.' Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which translated means, 'God with us.'" (Matthew 1:18-23 NASB)
During recent days, we have been considering not just titles for God but His names. The Christmas story in Matthew gives us a very specific name for Him. Jesus is named "Immanuel."
Have you ever called Him by that name?
In a sense, "Immanuel" is a name that can only be used for God (inasmuch as "God" is part of the meaning of the name), but it is not automatically a name for God (inasmuch as we can't automatically assume that a god would be with us).
Accordingly, in prayer, call Him "Immanuel," and talk with Him about what His name reveals about Him.
During recent days, we have been considering not just titles for God but His names. The Christmas story in Matthew gives us a very specific name for Him. Jesus is named "Immanuel."
Have you ever called Him by that name?
In a sense, "Immanuel" is a name that can only be used for God (inasmuch as "God" is part of the meaning of the name), but it is not automatically a name for God (inasmuch as we can't automatically assume that a god would be with us).
Accordingly, in prayer, call Him "Immanuel," and talk with Him about what His name reveals about Him.
December 3
"Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which translated means, 'God with us.'" (Matthew 1:18-23 NASB)
During this week, as we are approaching Christmas, we want to focus on the name "Immanuel." Yesterday, we gave ourselves time to talk to the Lord about what that name reveals about Him. Now talk to Him about what that name -- Immanuel -- means for your relationship with Him.
Talk with Him about specific times in your past when you perhaps would have done well to call Him "Immanuel." And talk with Him, too, about possible times and experiences in your future when you ought to be sure to call Him -- and know Him as -- Immanuel.
During this week, as we are approaching Christmas, we want to focus on the name "Immanuel." Yesterday, we gave ourselves time to talk to the Lord about what that name reveals about Him. Now talk to Him about what that name -- Immanuel -- means for your relationship with Him.
Talk with Him about specific times in your past when you perhaps would have done well to call Him "Immanuel." And talk with Him, too, about possible times and experiences in your future when you ought to be sure to call Him -- and know Him as -- Immanuel.
December 4
"Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which translated means, 'God with us.'" (Matthew 1:18-23 NASB)
Meditate on the significance of "with." One New Testament Greek lexicon defines the underlying word for "with" in terms of the following meanings:
Insert each of those understandings into the phrase "God with us." And, in prayer, talk with the Lord about what each one reveals to you.
Meditate on the significance of "with." One New Testament Greek lexicon defines the underlying word for "with" in terms of the following meanings:
- in company with
- among
- be with someone, to aid or help
- of friendly association
Insert each of those understandings into the phrase "God with us." And, in prayer, talk with the Lord about what each one reveals to you.
December 5
Have a pen and paper handy so that you can jot down your answers to a few questions.
Jesus' final word to His disciples in Matthew's Gospel is a promise to be "with." "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20 NASB)
The underlying Greek phrase, which we translate "always," literally means, "all the days."
In your prayer time, review your list of days. Talk to Him about your experience of each one, while hearing and affirming Jesus' promise to be with you "all the days."
- What two or three days come to mind when you think of the worst days in your life.
- What two or three days come to mind when you think of the best days in your life.
- What recent day were you discouraged?
- What recent day were you scared?
- What recent day were you worried?
- What days in the future do you fear or dread?
Jesus' final word to His disciples in Matthew's Gospel is a promise to be "with." "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20 NASB)
The underlying Greek phrase, which we translate "always," literally means, "all the days."
In your prayer time, review your list of days. Talk to Him about your experience of each one, while hearing and affirming Jesus' promise to be with you "all the days."
December 6
Time and again in Scripture, the Lord reassures people by promising them that He would be with them. We see that divine promise made to Isaac (Genesis 26:3), Jacob (Genesis 31:3), Moses (Exodus 3:12), Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:23; Joshua 1:5, 3:7), and Gideon (Judges 6:16).
Talk with the Lord about that promise. Explore with Him why it is so reassuring. Ask Him if it is also His promise to you. Meditate on what difference it makes.
Talk with the Lord about that promise. Explore with Him why it is so reassuring. Ask Him if it is also His promise to you. Meditate on what difference it makes.
December 7
"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." (Psalm 23:1-6 NASB)
The famous testimony of the Psalmist notably shifts from third person to first person in "the valley of the shadow of death." Prior to that line, the Lord is referred to in the third person (He). From that moment, however, the Lord is spoken to in the second person (Thou). And the key to that moment is found in the word "with" -- "I fear no evil; for Thou art with me."
Talk with the Lord about the Psalmist's experience and testimony:
Finally, thank Him for being the One who is personal to us -- not distant and third-person, but "with us" and second-person.
The famous testimony of the Psalmist notably shifts from third person to first person in "the valley of the shadow of death." Prior to that line, the Lord is referred to in the third person (He). From that moment, however, the Lord is spoken to in the second person (Thou). And the key to that moment is found in the word "with" -- "I fear no evil; for Thou art with me."
Talk with the Lord about the Psalmist's experience and testimony:
- The Psalmist found comfort and peace in the valley of the shadow of death because he knew that You were with him. Where do I need to find comfort? Where do I need to experience peace? Where do I need to realize that You are with me?
- The Psalmist said, "I fear no evil." Certainly he knew that evil existed, yet he did not fear it, because You were with him. What evil do I fear? What difference to that fear does Your being with me make?
Finally, thank Him for being the One who is personal to us -- not distant and third-person, but "with us" and second-person.
December 8
As we conclude Week 49, we want to meditate on a line from Charles Wesley's familiar Christmas carol:
"Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel."
Walk through the lyrics phrase by phrase. In your prayer time, make each phrase an affirmation of faith and an expression of praise to the One who is your Emmanuel.
"Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel."
Walk through the lyrics phrase by phrase. In your prayer time, make each phrase an affirmation of faith and an expression of praise to the One who is your Emmanuel.