Remembering the character of God and the wonderful things he has done moves us to praise and thank our great God for who he is and what he has done. This series of devotions have been written by Sarah Condie to encourage you to ponder the loving deeds of the Lord, so that songs of joy and thankfulness bubble forth from within you. Some devotions will focus on small but significant habits, while others will focus on the character of God.
At the end of each devotion and prayer, Sarah has provided a link to a song. Everyone’s taste in music is unique, so please, if you don’t like her choices, choose songs that you love.
Praise to the Lord
1 Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done wonderful things,
things planned long ago.
Reflection:
What’s in a name?
If I asked you now, ‘What does your name mean?’ you’d probably be able to tell me.
Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah said: ‘Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.’ Isaiah 7:14
Immanuel means ‘God with us.’ Isaiah spoke this prophecy at a time of war, upheaval, violence and bloodshed. These words are a promise from God to deliver his people. Imagine being told that you will be rescued by a virgin mother and her baby!
The true fulfilment of this promise was the wonderful event of God sending his Son into the world as a baby. A baby who was like all other babies, needing to be fed, burped and nappy changed. A baby who was not like any other baby, as he was also God. In the words of the Apostle John, ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.’ (John 1:14)
Jesus, fully human, fully God, is Immanuel, God with us. God with us to rescue and deliver us, so that we are freed from a life in darkness. We have been drawn into his presence.
And God continues to be with us through Jesus, even though his bodily presence on earth is no more. As Jesus said in parting words to his disciples, ‘And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ (Matthew 28:20)
As we wait for Jesus’ return, we have this fresh vision of Immanuel given to us by the Apostle John:
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. (Rev. 21:3) and ‘They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.’ (Rev 22:4)
What’s in a name? Immanuel — God with us. Praise God for his perfect faithfulness in keeping his promise and ensuring that we can delight in his presence forever through his wonderful work of redemption in Jesus.
Prayer:
‘Lord, you are my God.
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness,
you have done wonderful things,
things planned long ago.’
Thank you for the reminder that you are still with us today. Immanuel.
As we sing your name, help us remember we are not alone, and that you are a God who comforts, protects and encourages us. Whether we are afraid, rattled, or discouraged, help us remember that you are with us — in life, death and for all eternity. Amen.
Song: Immanuel by Michael Card
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/5Gy2go3vpnLfg5FY680Hzz?si=3cff51cbc4a04747
Youtube: https://youtu.be/sriugl-nO38
This series of devotions was written for and first published by The Bible Society Australia.
