I realize many are not exercise enthusiasts, but I have been one since childhood. Right now, I am enjoying the good fortune of swimming in a nearby lake. Yes, it is September, but thanks to a wetsuit, a much-appreciated birthday gift from my dear husband several years ago, I can extend my swimming season by an entire month.
In my swimming routine, I would count 20-30 repetitions as I alternated between five different swimming strokes. I finally came to my senses this summer when contemplating my current First 5 devotional, Praying Through the Psalms and Becoming Whole, the book our teacher ministry team is reading in preparation for our return trip to Zambia. For some time, I have wanted to make my swimming time more productive with prayer, but the counting would take over out of habit. This August, I started using what I will call “alphabetic praise.” Instead of counting, I began the practice of listing words, in alphabetical order that are characteristics, attributes, or names of God. Sometimes, I adapt, and song titles pop into my head. Whatever is a praise to my Lord, I sing out in my head. Some days, some of the words are the same, but there are so many to select from that some letters have quite a variety and many days, I list several.
Day by day, my list changes, but would you please join me in praise as I go through this moment’s list:
A – Alpha and omega, my God is the beginning and the end. He spoke all things into existence. (Gen. 1), Almighty God
B – Beloved, Beautiful Savior, Your Banner Over Us is Love, “Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love.” Song of Songs 2:4
C – Creator of the Universe, Comforter, Coventenal Love, Christ, Counselor “And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
D – Defender of my soul, Deliverer
E – Eternal, Everlasting to Everlasting
F – Fortress, Father, Friend
G – Giver of life, Great Physician, Glory of God, Good
H – Holy Spirit, Healer, Holy, holy, holy, “And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:3
I – Intercesor, Invisible
J – “Jesus, Name Above All Names, Beautiful Savior, Living Word,” Jehovah
K – King of Kings
L – Author of Love, Lord of Lords, Lover of My Soul
M – Mighty Arm, Mercy, “Mighty Fortress is Our God,” Mighty God, “The Mighty One, God, The LORD! The Mighty One, God, the LORD! He knows; and let Israel itself know!…”Josh 22:22),
N – Neither slumber nor sleep, “Indeed, he who watches over Israel with neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121:4
O- Omnipresent, always present, Omniscience, knows all things
P- Present, Patient, Great Physician, Prince of Peace
Q – Quiet, “…and after the earthquake a fire, [but] the Lord [was] not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 9:12
R – Redeemer, Restorer, Resurrected, Righteous “For the LORD is righteous, he loves righteous deeds, the upright will see his face.” Psalm 11:7
S – Steadfast love, Son, Savior, Salvation, Shekhinah Glory (Exodus 24:17)
T – Trinity, Teacher
U – Unity, Upright
V – Verily (meaning truly): “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 18:3-4
W – Wonderful Counselor, Wondrous Works
X – Exalted (yes, I cheat on this word, but exalt is a great descriptor!)
Y – Yahweh, the personal, intimate name of God.
Z – Alpha and Omega. The Greek alphabet symbols whose meanings are first and last.
My alphabetic praise has become a joyful way to start my daily swim. It is a never-ending list that I can recite over and over. What mundane task do you take part in that would allow you to move your deep thoughts to that of praise to our Savior: vacuuming, sweeping the floor, making beds, washing dishes? If you have some activity in which you enter into your own deep thoughts, may I instead encourage you to join me in praying through the practice of Alphabetic Praise.
Dear Father, I thank you for the health that you have given me to enjoy your beautiful creation physically. “Accept, LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws.” (Psa 119:108) “I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” (Psa 34:1) I thank you, Lord, for “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.” (Psa 40:3) I know that my perspective on life, problems, health concerns, all change when I lift my eyes to you. I thank you that your Holy Spirit abides within. Father, you are worthy of all praise. May you be glorified. Amen
May you experience God’s blessings as you shift your focus to daily praise and glorification of the only worthy one. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matt 6: 9
Linda
